REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE Many employers and tertiary institutions have reported that some school leavers lack “worldliness”, meaning the skills to manage well in the work force or tertiary institutes where more independence is required. At ELTHAM College we have carefully set up our Senior School to address this issue and to ensure we prepare our students to be “world ready”. One way we do this is by encouraging students to consider extended work experience whilst completing their VCE. This way, as well as learning theory, they also learn the practical skills expected in a workplace. For example Brooke, a current Year 12 student, successfully completed a School Based Traineeship (SBT) as a PE Teacher Assistant.
SPORTS CENTRE NEWS The ELTHAM College Sports Centre was created in 1976 and originally named the Eccacentre. It was funded by a community cooperative which at its time was the largest in Victorian history. The design included large scale graphics on internal and external walls and the building was given an Architectural Award on completion recognising its unique design and the economic construction of the building. During later difficult financial times, the Eccacentre Cooperative Ltd was wound up and the building purchased by the College.
This entailed working one day a week in a local primary school as a paid Assistant PE Teacher and also completing a TAFE Certificate course in Sport and Recreation. Another recent example is Tom, a current Year 10
student who is completing a VET subject in Community Services (Children’s Services). Tom has impressed his employers so much that he has already been offered ongoing paid work!
Many years later Eccacentre now enjoys a rebirth as The ELTHAM College Sports Centre. Following the massive hailstorm on Christmas Day 2011, the Eccacentre had to be totally rebuilt. Insurance money coupled with funds from the College Board and ELTHAM Foundation allowed us to create a renewed Sports Centre. The Centre has an indoor swimming pool, basketball stadium, a fully equipped gymnasium (open most days for students), a dance studio and a ‘sit down’ cafeteria for Middle Years’ students. The Centre was opened by V8 Champion driver and past ELTHAM College student, Jamie Whincup, in March 2013 and is now thoroughly enjoyed by our students and local community sporting groups.
You can check out our amazing facilities during an ELTHAM In Action school tour.
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