Year 9 CLC Program Chronicles

Our CLC cohort of Year 9s edged closer to achieving their goals in an epic and meaningful Week 7.

First on the agenda was for each of the 50 students to select which community group project they will volunteer with in Term 4. Mrs Lane, Mrs Wilson & Mrs Newman presented an array of great opportunities including: St John’s Nursing Home, the Wangaratta Sustainability Community Garden, Iloura Residential Age Care, Make A Wish Foundation fundraising, conducting Sports Clinics at Wangaratta West Primary School (and potentially other schools), Sleep Under The Stars fundraising for the Homeless, creating Care Packages for Wangaratta Hospital, promoting Zac’s Place to assist the Homeless, and painting a Mural on the CLC Building. This list was added to the Classroom Helpers & Grounds Crew groups at Wangaratta West, and the Mullinmur Citizen Scientists groups presented a few weeks ago. We wholeheartedly thank all of these terrific community people for their dedication in assisting our program, which we couldn’t run without them. 

Once in their groups, the kids drafted hand-written letters, and then sent emails, to their chosen community contacts, outlining their wishes and aims for their project. Guided by Mrs Wilson, they also completed the all-important Risk Assessment documentation, which got them to understand the various dangers they may encounter when out and about, and how to manage them to keep themselves safe.

The weekly tradition of the CLC Family Lunch was again a hit, with Toasties and Watermelon on the menu. This time our Food Prep Crew volunteers were some our outstanding young men in Ned O’Kane, Jed Marek, Ryley Downing and Lachie Suffield, who did a tremendous job, despite one student getting a comical awakening when unluckily chomping into a “Pure Bread” Toastie.. without cheese. Swaye Frankland too was once again on hand helping in the Kitchen in any way she could. Thanks to all of the lunch volunteers, and Mrs Lane our CLC Chef who always goes above and beyond to keep the kids fed and happy.

After lunch we headed to the Main Drag for our traditional CLC Scavenger Hunt. An exercise in Trust and Teamwork, students formed groups and toured the two main City Blocks with a map searching for 15 clues which inadvertently educated them on an array of services available in town. The Scavenger Hunt was the first time the students had been set loose  on activity independently, with staff members loosely supervising on each corner of the CBD, and allows them to show us they can be trusted out in the community. They did a sterling job, with the boys group of Lachie Suffield, Ryley Downing, Jed Marek and Ned O’Kane the champion team being the first group to return to King George Gardens with all clues solved.

Another highlight was the traditional “Random Act Of Kindness.” One of our Gun Girls in Paige Vincent was given the exciting task of walking up to a random stranger in King George Gardens, and surprising them with a bunch of flowers. The lucky recipient was delighted, and incredibly, happened to be a parent of on our students. Congratulations to the CLC cohort for another outstanding display. 

With “The Bye” next week due to Parent-Student-Teacher Interviews, our next hit-out will be the excursion in 2 weeks time out to Myhree Primary School, where their Principal, an all-round great person and long-time supporter of the CLC program (and former Wangaratta High student) Ash Graham will lead the kids through a day of activities helping out their school community.

Jud Mullins - CLC