VCAL

In 2013, 26 students participated in the College’s VCAL program at the Intermediate, (Year 11) and Senior, (Year 12), levels. Fourteen Year 12 students graduated with the Senior VCAL Certificate. Twelve students completed the Intermediate VCAL (Year 11) Certificate and will pathway into Senior VCAL in 2014. Two will take up apprenticeships next year and one will study sports development at SEDA. The Senior VCAL class at De La Salle had a very busy and productive year. The Senior VCAL program is completed in Year 12 providing graduates with entry into a range of vocational courses at TAFE and elsewhere. This year some of the VCAL senior class will go straight into an apprenticeship and be on their way to starting their careers, while others will go on to further studies. In 2013, Senior VCAL students specialized in Building and Construction, Horticulture, Media, Special Events, Electrotechnology and Transport and Logistics. The exciting aspect of the VCAL program at De La Salle is that the opportunity for learning goes far beyond the recognized certificates our students have earned. Our students develop other skills which will help benefit them in their future study, work and life — being able to communicate with a variety of people, being first-aid trained and equipped to problem solve in a range of areas. Applied learning opportunities also extend outside the classroom, for example, this year’s VCAL classes completed a Barista Course at the Australian Coffee School. Jamie Faro, a member of the Senior VCAL class was invited to perform at the Australian Teenage Expo at the Showgrounds. In 2013, the Senior VCAL class worked on an integrated unit which culminated in the refurbishment of a communal courtyard at the Kinnoull Campus. The project included a scoping and design stage, during which the boys presented their ideas to the College’s Leadership Team for approval. Given the green light, they subsequently constructed and installed seating, planter boxes, a table and mosaics within the area. The courtyard also got a fresh coat of paint and some olive trees for the planter boxes. The Reflective Courtyard was opened with a blessing by Br Denis Loft in October and since then has been a popular meeting place for senior students. In addition to their applied learning program, the boys have also been actively involved in a range of social justice and personal development experiences, which will further enrich their life experience when they have left the College. Two of the VCAL boys were part of the Papua New Guinea social justice program and one of the Senior students went on the Coolies social justice trip at the end of the year. As part of their Literacy Study, the Year 11 VCAL class was part of a Literacy program at Stonnington Primary where they mentored younger students and assisted with Literature Circles. Plans are already underway to expand the program in 2014. Year 11 VCAL students complete a compulsory VET in Theatre Production and Events Management. Students work closely with the College’s drama department assisting with the staging of its performances. This year the boys built sets and helped with sound and lighting, as well as Front of House duties at the year’s co-productions, ‘That Scoundrel Scapin’ and ‘The Real Inspector Hound’ at the Phoenix Theatre. At the end of the year the class attended a performance of the stage production, ‘Shane Warne, the Musical’, at the Melbourne Arts Centre. Congratulations to all the VCAL students, especially our graduating Senior VCAL class of 2013. Thank you to all the VCAL teachers who have worked hard all year to help the boys realize their goals. Thanks to Charles Thompson, Doug Esler, Rose Roe, Kath Marino, Tim Hogan, Peter Harte, Peter Larsen as well as the Pathways team, Carmel Smart and Caroline Fitzpatrick.