Year 9 CLC Program Chronicles

CLC Week 5 - Ten Pin Bowling

The CLC Locomotive gathered more steam during Week 5.

Students were introduced to Mr CLC, a wooden cut out now standing proud at the front of the room, emblazoned with the words Kindness, Empathy, Gratitude, Connection, Community, Mindfulness, Trust, Teamwork, and Respect. Constantly in the students’ line of sight, and easily referred to by CLC staff, he’ll serve as a constant reminder of the concepts CLC is trying to engrain in the group.

Taking a key strategy from the Berry Street Education Model, the CLC walls are filling up with photos from the previous excursions, as a way for the kids to savour & catalogue moments, an important part of building a sense of belonging to the CLC Family and the school. Linking into this, 12 of the best Slam Dunks captured from the Bounce Trampolining excursion, featured on one wall, and the cohort voted in the best technique. Although staff expected Daniel Hammond to win, with his body in his dunk pic contorted in very high likeness to the Michael “Air” Jordan logo a lot of the kids wear on their Nike gear, he somehow didn’t place. Coming in 3rd were Lachlan Suffield & Ryley Downing, with their miraculously-timed, synchronised double-dunk. Tom Ford was runner-up, with one of his trademark 360s. But the clear winner, was Tremayne Roberts, who was pictured jamming in a double-hander with his shoulders above the rim. 

Paying tribute to Olivia Newton-John who had died the day before, we watched a couple of clips, including the Grease Megamix film clip, and we spoke about Olivia’s story, from going from someone blessed with everything a young girl could dream of having, to being struck by the toughest tragedy, and how she was an example of someone with incredible resilience in her battles with Cancer of many years, and a phenomenal ability to be positive and still inspire people and do positive things for others. “Physical” made its way through the speakers as well.

Students were treated to a special visit from Andy McLean, who led the CLC program for 10 years prior to returning at the end of 2021. Mr McLean spoke about his time in CLC, what he hopes the kids can get out of the program, and gave his unique take on all of the key concepts the CLC program is built around. Eyes widened as he touched on his battle with Cancer as a young father 20-odd years ago, the resilience required to survive it, and the power of using gratitude and positive thinking to overcome the negative emotions we all face. Students then paired up, wrote on balloons things they’re grateful for, and tied them onto our steel CLC Gratitude Tree. 

We thank Andy for coming back in and inspiring another cohort of Year 9s with his passion. Having every Wangaratta High School student come through CLC over the last 10 years, and with his contagious positivity and ability to embody all of the CLC values we try to teach, it would be hard to think of someone who has had more impact on our students in the last decade, or is as universally loved and admired by our kids. It’s no surprise that CLC staff are often stopped in the street by ex-students that say CLC was their favourite part of High School, and it was no surprise to see the cavalcade of kids that ran and swarmed the building on Wednesday at recess having heard Andy was back, shaking his hand and even hugging him. Thanks mate for the legacy you have left.

After recess students were introduced to the first of our Community Groups with which they may choose to volunteer with in Term. We thank Xavier Norden and Poss Ashmead from Wangaratta West Primary School, who have once again kindly offered to host our kids. In Term 2, we had up to 20 of our students at Wang West on a Wednesday, with a dozen in classrooms helping the Preps and Grade 1s with Reading, others assisting in P.E classes, and others outside in a Grounds Crew helping with various labouring jobs. The classroom helpers were apparently so helpful, that Principal Kristy Keenan had a number of her teachers approach her to request more CLC kids. This is what CLC is all about. Our kids helping out their community, and at the same time developing a host of skills in external environments. 

Mrs Lane introduced another outstanding potential project, based at the Mullinmur Wetlands on the river at the end of Philipson St, hosted by Kelvin Berry and Wangaratta Landcare & Sustainability Incorporated. Our “Citizen Scientists” group has the chance to be involved in activities such as setting bait nets, inspecting the animal Nesting Boxes, Red Gum thinning, Bardi Grub research, inspecting Bee Hotels, analysing Dissolved Oxygen Levels, Billabong Revegetation, and working with the Victorian Fisheries Association to protect native species such as Squirrel Gliders. Thanks to Kelvin & Mrs Lane. We already have a number of boys putting their hands up for this beauty.

As a bonding exercise, we ran a Getting To Know Each-Other Kahoot quiz, which allowed each student in the cohort to share an interesting fact about themselves. With the room split into groups, the competition was fierce, and some of the facts shared were interesting, deep, and hilarious. Paige Vincent was the overall winner, showing terrific Social Intelligence in knowing more about her peers than anyone else in the room. Tremayne Roberts was close behind in 2nd, and Alison Jones’ team finished in 3rd after leading going into the final question. The kids loved it so much they requested another Kahoot, so we had a go at the corresponding quiz for last year’s Semester 2 group, now in Year 10. Alison’s group made amends with a victorying the rematch, with Tara Wevers’ trio coming in 2nd. 

CLC Family Lunch saw the rolling out of the Pizza Oven, another of Mr McLean’s inventions. Overlooking the School Oval, with the oven fire blazed up by Kenny Forster, Mrs Lane, Mrs Newman, and their team of CLC Assistants in Melina Young, Lilian Oats-Hamblin and Swaye Frankland, who had all prepared the Muffin Pizzas in our CLC Kitchen, cooked them up and served them to the cohort who again ate at the CLC Long Tables in a Christmas Lunch set-up that promotes conversation and connection. Lachlan Suffield, who we noted last week as sacrificing himself to allow others to eat leftovers, was rewarded for that generosity, by being given extra slices this time. Lilian continued to impress after lunch, as she even washed up the dishes, and was overheard saying, “It’s good to help others.” When she was told she could go out to enjoy her lunchtime, she kept cleaning and stated, “We get to that all of the time, but doing good deeds, you only get to do every now and again.” What an outstanding young person. Thanks Lilian.

After lunch, it was excursion time as we hit Main Street Wangaratta for some Ten Pin Bowling, an activity where perforning in front of peers brings many our of their comfort zone. Filling 10 lanes, and with several kids having never experienced Ten Pin Bowling ever before, our kids had a blast. A bunch of the likely boys dominated, with 6 of them scoring above 90 points to round out 6 of the top 7 places. Those were Jack Lockhart (91), Tyrelle Clark (92), Jed Marek (95), Daniel Hamond (98), Ned O’Kane (100), and Lachie Suffield (105). But it was one of our terrific girls, Tahlia Lawler, who was the champ with a score of 113. She took the early lead as her lane finished first, and knowing she was a chance to win, stalked the other lanes watching the scoreboards to see who could catch her. In the end, Daniel had a chance to pip her on his last play, but he couldn’t get it done. The group was praised by the venue staff for their excellent participation and behaviour, capping off another great day in their CLC journey.

CLC Week 6 - First Aid & Human Fusbal

CLC played a home game in Week 6, for a rare day of all activities and challenges being based on campus.

The Morning Primer session focused on Happiness, with the cohort prompted to ponder what in life makes them happy. Cogs turned as Mrs Wilson spoke about Ben Crowe, motivational coach of former World Number 1 tennis player Ash Barty, and a video of people showing various ages stating their happiness influences got ink flowing. It was satisfying to observe that a lot of factors to do with connection, such as family, friends, and helping others, were at the top of many lists.

Special guest for the day was former Wang High P.E teacher and now Ambulance Victoria Paramedic, Darcy Booth, who took the cohort through 3 hours of First Aid training. Darcy had the room completely engaged as he stepped them through DRSABCD, CPR, Defibulation, Anaphylaxis, Fainting, Bleeding and Snake Bites. Swaye Frankland again impressed everyone in the room, including Darcy, with her knowledge which we later found out was gained while teaching First Aid sessions herself while in the Scouts. Jye Laxton put his hand up to attempt CPR on a Crash Test Dummy in front of the group, and before we knew it the whole room was on their knees, taking turns in small groups trying to resuscitate mannequins strewn across the floor, caving in the plastic chests to the beat of the Bee Gees banger “Staying Alive” blasting in the background. 

Thanks to Darcy for not only passing on to our kids so many potentially life-saving skills, but also for inspiring them with the story of his path to becoming a Paramedic. A great bloke who we hope to have back again in the future. Each student will soon be presented with a First Aid Certificate to add to their Curriculum Vitae.

CLC Family Lunch saw two meals this week prepared by our CLC Chef Mrs Lane, with Pancakes on the menu for Morning Tea, and Muffin Pizzas the headliner at lunch. As usual, the CLC Long Tables came out again to promote the all-important whole group socialisation and bonding, but it was one of our students who stole the show. Swaye Frankland , who had not only assisted preparing the pizzas, took it upon herself to act as waitress, taking trays of cooked pizzas from the CLC Kitchen to her waiting peers at the Long Tables, and was observed ensuring everyone in the cohort, as well as teachers, had eaten before she did. Remarkably, she then came into the Kitchen to clean and dry the plates, all of her own accord. Thanks Swaye.

After lunch it was to the Sport Centre for a monster game of Human Fusbal (Table Soccer). The stadium was converted with ropes into a giant Table Soccer Arena, and once split into two teams, our kids strapped themselves to the ropes allowing themselves to slide laterally along the rope, but not move forward or back. Hilarity ensued as Bon Jovi blasted through the speakers, three balls thrown in, and teamwork the key with each rope having to work together in unison to prevent breaking their rope. Seth Burns was the first to break the ice with a goal, and after three terms allowing everybody to have a go in each position, the Red team were victorious 17-11.

The day finished with the most difficult challenge of CLC thus far. Bringing out 2 monster tubs of giant Icy Pole sticks, students watched a video demonstration of how to weave the sticks together to eventually make what is called a Stick Bomb of sticks chained together. It was a classic example of something that is far more difficult than it looks, and for most it was a test of resilience and persistence in not giving up. After 20 minutes, only a handful were able to say they had mastered the strange skill, and all of them girls. Alison Jones and Isabelle Hooper were the first to break through, with Amelia Roberts and Lily Maher others to succeed. 

Thanks again to the group for another outstanding day. Next step will be selecting the Community Group which they will volunteer with in Term 4.

Jud Mullins – CLC