The Hamilton and Alexandra College Newsletter

 

Senior Years and Wellbeing 

Service Learning

At the College we value the importance of our students engaging in meaningful community service. Our Service program is a key means by which our students can give back to the community and is an important part of developing a social conscience.

Our Year 8 and 10 students all complete community service as part of their leadership programs. Six of our Year 10s will again be working at the Eventide Lutheran homes and many others are already donating their time working in their local communities.

Our four Houses are linked to local groups and our students are already fully committed in volunteering their time.

 

LAIDLAW HOUSE

In 2020 the students and Mentors in Laidaw House will be continuing their involvement with the ‘Tutoring Café’. So far there have been 9 students who have been tutors at the two Cafés we have had, and the goal is for every student to attend at least once during the year. A roster will be made up with a mixture of students (7-12) to provide every student the opportunity to serve the wider community. The Tutoring Café runs between 4 and 5 pm every second Thursday at the Hamilton Uniting Church in Lonsdale Street.

Ms Cindy Riddle is the coordinator of the program and she has been in to speak to Laidlaw House about the purpose of the Café and introduced herself. She is also planning a ‘Tutor the Tutors’ session to help equip the students with the skills they may need during the sessions.

 

LEARMONTH HOUSE

Aim

To build upon and strengthen the relationship between The Hamilton and Alexandra College and The Mulleraterong Centre.

 

Mulleraterong Centre Inc disability support

 

Mission and Vision

Mulleraterong’s mission is “to weave the intricate tasks of each day into a seamless coordinated system of person centred supports.” With the vision “to provide Centre and community based, individualised programs that engage, empower and enrich the lives of participants.”

 

Operations and Location

Based on Alexandra Parade, Hamilton, the Centre helps adults with a disability in the Hamilton region by supporting Individual Choice, Empowerment, Opportunity and Inclusion. The Centre offers provision of 60 plus programs and activities for adults with disabilities, with a fully operational wood working workshop and a dedicated independent living house.

​Mulleraterong also provides 1:1 Outreach support that can be a tailored, flexible combination of services provided in the home or community and holiday support.

 

Connection with The Hamilton and Alexandra College

The Hamilton and Alexandra College has been assisting Mulleraterong for the last 6 years with students in a Learmonth Mentor Group visiting the Centre each week and in more recent years, senior students from the whole House visiting the centre each week. Learmonth House has also invited and assisted Mulleraterong clients to the Hamilton and Alexandra College performances and musicals.   

 

The future

This project aims to build upon the current relationship that The College has with Mulleraterong in three main ways.

  1. By continuing the weekly visits by Learmonth students.
  2. Continuing to invite and assist Mulleraterong clients to attend College productions and musicals.
  3. Opportunities for Learmonth students to organise Mulleraterong clients to visit The College for lunchtime sporting activities.

Students within Learmonth House will be responsible for the organisation of each of the above events.   

 

YOUNG HOUSE

Young House has established a connection with the Uniting Church as part of their Community Service commitment. Through this relationship our students have the opportunity to help those in need, while developing a greater appreciation of their community, and the mutual benefits of volunteer work.

 In 2018 Young House began helping with a number of activities and services provided by the church and will continue to do so in 2020.  Students from Years 7-11 will offer help with Tuesday lunches – a program serving lunch to those in need and an optional Friday night Games and Activity nights for disabled clients. Members of the House were also involved in supporting Shrove Tuesday on the 25th February from 10am – 1pm with a small number of students volunteering.

Can I also thank the wonderful parents/grandparents of Young House who have also given of their time to help with ‘Pancake Day’ at the Uniting Church:  Mrs Emily Hausler, Mrs Di Austin, Mrs Sarah Roberts and Mrs Claire Finch.

 

BERRY HOUSE

Berry House will be supporting Laidlaw House with the Tutoring Café and will again be conducting the ‘It’s in the Bag’ drive. Berry will be seeking to expand their scope across all 3 bags – teenagers, new mothers and displaced women and each mentor will be working on sourcing donations.

 

Kristen Waldron