Alternative Program Update
We have come to the end of a busy term. Lots of hands on learning has been happening.
Hands on Learning
The Thursday and Friday Hands on Learning groups have this term:
- worked on making the sides for a gaga pit for the school.
- painted large tyres to make mini sand pits for the school.
- formed a lovely partnership with Archie Graham Centre. The Thursday group played indoor bowls at the City Memorial Bowls Club with a group of ten elderly men. The Friday group hosted morning tea and a craft morning with a group of elderly women.
- run four cafes for four classes this term, cooking pizzas, hamburgers, fried rice and made some yummy milkshakes.
- weeded and planted some veggies in the vegie garden.
- made tool boxes, bird planters and fence paling portraits.
West Warrnambool Primary school hosted the Thursday Hands on Learning group, where they enjoyed working together to make mini roads and ate a lovely bowl of spaghetti bolognese. We look forward to next term hosting West Warrnambool students.
It has been great to see students develop leadership and team building skills, become more resilient and competent at using tools.
Men’s Shed
Students have further developed their partnership with the men and one woman at the Men’s Shed. We are so grateful for the time and effort these volunteers put in to support our students. One student commented that they enjoy being with the people at the Shed more than the constructing the projects.
This term the students have made a ipad holder, a wooden plant holder, a wooden sliding pencil box and a fruit bowl. The students have further developed their building skills as well as patience and resilience to be able to tackle some complex projects.
Here are some student view points about the Men’s Shed
Oliver - The Men’s Shed is good because we build with wood, I liked building the tool box best of all. My focus plan is to speak clearly which is something I find hard. I have got better at this.
Brax - Not always about learning new stuff and what you can do with materials and stuff but being with the elderly people and then you can talk to them, to see what is happening in their life and they ask about your school life.
Lewis - Build social skills and helps me to get better at building stuff.
Tommy - Build new friendships and helps you to learn basic skills so you don't have to always pay money for someone to do it for you.
Max - Great if you want to learn stuff and it helps with your communication with other people.
Coonor - Learn new stuff in life and handy stuff.
Angus - Men’s Shed is really good because it is not just all about building the projects, you are always learning a lot of things. It is really fun being up there and the people up there are really nice and good to have a talk to.
Layla - Allows us to learn how to communicate with others. I know lots of students have special bonds with the people at the Men’s Shed and it really regulates people and they are all happier coming back to school.
Heidi - Learn to communicate with others and start a conversation and teaches us new skills.
Annabelle - I know that some people at school have low esteem and lack confidence, the Men's Shed helps us. It allows us to focus more and really helps when come back to school refreshed and learn new skills. It helps us to stay in the green zone and if we are mad or sad or something these skills can help us regulate.
Alternate afternoon
Students have enjoyed building in the shed, cooking in the kitchen, an extra phys ed lesson, craft and on a Thursday working as a group on community projects. The students have helped to paint the sandpit tyres and also contributed to making the sides for the gaga pit. It has been good to see this group further develop their ability to work in a team.
