VCAL
VCAL NEWS
Community Garden Update:
There were moments we all wondered if it was ever going to get there, and one thing for certain was that we learnt a lot along the way. Firstly, it’s not easy doing outdoor building projects in the middle of a Castlemaine winter. Secondly, collaboration is key. Thirdly, if things don’t always go to plan, have a look at the plan and if necessary make a new plan. That’s what we did when there was some vandalism to the wicking beds in third term.
When the Spring sunshine came out, Kath Coff and some of the Blakely Rd students got involved to kick-started the project again. We had full-day working bee, with more than a dozen people helping, that really got things moving. Big thanks to Sas from Gung Hoe Growers for lending us her Gung Hoe know-how. And to all our helpers on the day from VCAL and beyond including Joel, Jesse C, Jess S, Jesse McK, Hayden, Sol, Connor, Matt , Harley, Kath, Chaise, Liam, Shakira, Ken, Kya, Stewart and Cath. We are planning another full-day of constructing the wicking beds. Hopefully our garden will be able to provide fresh food and produce for the canteen and the Foods classes for many years to come and the area can provide a valuable hand-on learning space for students to explore.
P.A.R.T.Y. Program:
Did you know your life could change forever in a split second? Year 11 VCAL students do now after participating in the P.A.R.T.Y Program in Bendigo run by The Alfred Hospital. P.A.R.T.Y stands for Prevent Alcohol Risk Related Trauma in Youth.
About 100 students, from CSC and other schools, were exposed to a variety of confronting activities throughout the day, with only four passing out at some stage.
Students were first given an introduction by doctors and nurses about the sorts of injuries they might experience working in a Trauma Unit in a hospital with a range of x-rays that were somewhere between bizarre and macabre. In the simulated ICU (Intensive Care Unit) the common question was ‘How the hell do they get a catheter in there?’ They were introduced to the basic of First Aid and had an inspiring presentation from a survivor who had a head on collision with a truck carrying 6 tonne of road-base. That person through rehabilitation and physiotherapy was able to jump from a plane and parachute four years later. The last session was seeing what happens inside a Burns Unit. The aim of the program was for students to be mindful of what might happen next time they place themselves in a risky situation.
Brekky Club:
Dave Tulpot came to the yr12 VCAL with a proposal. Dave co-ordinates the highly successful Brekky Program at Blakeley Rd Campus and could see a need to provide the service on more than one day a week. As a trial he needed ‘hands-on-deck’ to help prepare and deliver breakfast to students who might skip the day’s first meal. Lily, Jake, Jesse, Joel, Connor, Sol and Jess work out a roster system that saw them arrive at BRC on Mondays and Wednesday to not only serve up breakfast, but also build some rapport for some of the younger students at that campus. Connor and Sol created a survey from Yr7,8,9 with the hope that the results could help Dave better prepare his programs to reach those that most need it.
Murals:
Apart from Daikota’s mural mentioned earlier in the year, Lily and Jess managed to complete some artwork at various locations both in school and around town. Jess painted Harry Potter themed mural in a dark and dingy staircase, and followed up with a large Potter-themed paste-up nearby. No prizes for guessing who she dressed up as during the YR12 break-up celebrations. Both Lily and Jess finished their pieces at Ellery House much to the delight of the local residents.
Friends of Lolotoe:
Chis Sertori, from Mt Alexander Friends of Lolotoe visited the Year 11 VCAL class after her recent visit to East Timor and the delivery of 750 pencils, soaps and shampoos collected by Castlemaine Secondary College. The recipients were thrilled with the gift, and we are already discussing ways we can do fund-raisning and offer support in 2017.