College students offered pathways to be their best

By Gabriel Garcia

Mar 14, 2023

Job ready: Cobram Secondary College prides itself on making its students, like these 2022 graduates, job ready. Photo by Contributed

Cobram Secondary College believes every day is an open day and its educational program, first rate facilities and dedicated staff will ensure students have multiple pathways to be their best.

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The college has students coming from as far as Finley and Berrigan and principal Kimberley Tempest said the college catered to all students.

“CSC offers a range of opportunities to suit all of our students, from the highly academic, the musical, through to sporty or hands-on students,” Ms Tempest said.

Alongside regular study, college students enjoy camps, sporting events, formal social gatherings and student leadership opportunities, which are designed to ensure well-rounded students.

Classrooms are equipped with the latest technology including smart boards and students have access to labs, gyms, exercise rooms and sporting fields.

In conjunction with the normal curriculum, students can take part in a high abilities program.

Special science: Cobram Secondary College’s high abilities co-ordinator and science teacher George Allen with students Cameron Sneddon, Isabella Galland and Mia Stanyer conducing a science experiment. Photo by Gabriel Garcia

The program comprises lunchtime sessions open to all students in Years 7 and 8 and focuses on literacy, science, technology, engineering and maths subjects as well as camps and workshops for high-performing students.

Ms Tempest said the high abilities program extended students academically and was designed to offer students opportunities to broaden their learning experiences.

For students who love hands-on learning, the college offers design and technology classes (including woodwork and metalwork) in state-of-the-art facilities equipped with modern machines including routers, plasma cutters and 3D printers.

Design and technology teacher Craig Hunt told the Courier the equipment used by students matches industry standards.

“If the students decide to be tradespeople, these skills that they're learning from using these machines are transferable to what’s out there,” Mr Hunt said.

The school also has its own Honda HRV 18 which is used in the highly popular automotive classes.

Car lovers: Noah Beurs and Tyren Francis with the school’s Honda HRV 18. Photo by Gabriel Garcia

Students interested in VET programs can participate in community services, engineering, agriculture, sport and recreation, cookery, active volunteering and employment pathways programs. The college plans to introduce VET engineering later in 2023 and VET automotive in 2024.

The different learning opportunities available help ensure students are ready to join the workforce or higher education upon leaving the college.

Work ready skills: Cobram Secondary College students are taught their VET Certificate II in Cookery by Cobram’s very own master chef Antonio Zardo. (From left) Josephine French (Year 12), Kaminee Velumani (Year 11) and Mr Zardo. Photo by Contributed

“We are really just sort of taking it up to the next level,” Ms Tempest said.

For many of the students the greatest highlight is arguably the college’s renowned music program which is recognised as one of the best in the state.

Students can learn brass, woodwind, percussion, vocals and guitar with the school having multiple bands, including the Junior Concert Band, Senior Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Vocal Ensemble and other musical ensembles.

The school was awarded gold in the 2022 Victorian School Music Festival.