Another year of achievement ends: Notre Dame Secondary College MCP students (l-r) Terry Steward, Jizelle Atkinson-Smith, Tyler Michell, Mia Davis, Molly Ralph, Hayden James, Tyler Mousley, Paddy Bolger and Peter Savage.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
There were award certificates, applause, beaming faces, games and even Christmas presents as one of Shepparton’s unique alternative schools celebrated the end of a challenging year this week.
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Teachers and students of Notre Dame Secondary College’s McAuley Champagnat Programme held a day of games, awards and Christmas lunch festivities on Wednesday, December 8.
Students were rewarded with achievement certificates for their determination and improvements during a year of COVID-induced restrictions and lockdowns.
Congratulations: MCP student Hayden James and director Dani Gow exchange presents during end-of-school-year celebrations this week.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
MCP’s newly appointed director, Dani Gow, said the day was an opportunity to celebrate the young people’s achievements — social as well as academic.
“It’s about their social and emotional growth. And our volunteers and support workers join us as well — the whole school community comes together,” Ms Gow.
She said despite pandemic restrictions, the school was allowed to remain open and some students excelled academically.
“They could still connect with staff and they were also connected online with support workers. We normally provide them with lunch and we were able to get food to families even through COVID,” Ms Gow said.
The north Shepparton school’s 28 students range in age from Year 7 up to VCAL level. Ms Gow said the school ensured students were connected to local youth welfare services such as The Bridge, The Haven and social workers during the holidays.
She said the MCP programme provided a safe learning environment for disengaged students.
“We help them develop self-regulation, stay engaged with the community and explore options for their future. We have students from trauma backgrounds with pretty difficult and complex needs — so we help them deal with that and start studying,” Ms Gow said.
Ms Gow said school data showed some students’ learning and confidence had improved 300 per cent while at MCP.
