VCAL

It has been a big year for VCAL. Firstly, a Lynne Kosky Memorial VCAL Grant was received. Funds were divided between the Year 11 and 12 students. Year 11 designed and built the Breakfast Club in the dining area between the two food technology kitchens, in the Delaney Building. Two coffee machines were purchased as well as outdoor, cafe style furniture.

With the other half of the grant, the Year 12 VCAL students built the Community Pantry. Year 12 VCAL students Lea and Lily said the pantry aimed to help students and the community “when times are hard” and will be filled with the generous donations of the staff and students of Killester College.

The VCAL students were also the successful winners for the State of Victoria of the ANZAC Day Schools Awards in 2021. According to the ANZAC Portal,

“Killester College's entry had several creative elements. Students researched and prepared activities to share with the younger students from a nearby primary school. Their activities were designed to help primary students understand the importance of commemoration. A local veteran also joined the school community to share his experiences.”

This is a splendid achievement which started with the running of the first ANZAC Ceremony between Killester College and St Joseph’s Primary School. This was followed by classroom activities in the Grade ¾ classrooms.

It was a difficult year for VCAL in 2021 with the lockdowns preventing many planned activities such as the VCAL Camp. However, Senior VCAL did manage to create podcasts as well as debated against St Bede's College using an online platform to do this. They presented a Vocational Expo to Year 8 and 9 students online, demonstrating their particular VET course through activities. All VCAL students created an online radio segment with SYN FM which was then aired, attended an excursion for homelessness with the Salvation Army and completed RSA and Food Handling certificates. Well done to all the VCAL students of 2021!