Moorabool News The
EMAIL: news@themooraboolnews.com.au
Tuesday 9 March, 2021
Your Local News
Serving Ballan and district since 1872
FREE
Member of
WEB: www.themooraboolnews.com.au
Phone 5368 1966
Vol 15 No 9
Getting creative
GETTING CREATIVE - Gordon PS – (L-R) Amie Sexton (creative worker), Connor, Ava, Lexi and Milla. Front row: Andy and Aiden. Photo – Caitlin Bewley By Caitlin Bewley Broadening the creative horizons for primary students has been welcomed at two rural schools in Moorabool, after they were chosen as part of a government initiative. In February, 37 creative workers began placements in 32 government schools across the state, two of those schools were Mt Egerton and Gordon Primary Schools. The Creative Workers in Schools program is delivered by Regional Arts Victoria in partnership with Department of Education and Training and Creative Victoria through the support of the Victorian Government’s Working for Victoria Initiative, providing the opportunity for 150 creative industry workers to undertake a six-month residency in Victorian government schools, including special schools.
Mt Egerton Primary School welcomed landscape gardener Gavin Pocock for the next six months beginning his residency two weeks ago (Feb 22). The school are looking to create a place that recognises the past, present and future of Mt Egerton Primary’s school, students, staff, and community over the last 174 years. Principal Tegan Bell said the creative workers in schools’ program is a great opportunity for the students to explore their creativity and to see the creative vision from someone else. “We’ve got a lot of creative students at the school and to have more exposure to different types of creativity, who knows where it’ll lead them to later in life,” she said. Ms Bell agreed that allowing the students to explore their creativity at a young age was great for personal growth.
“You can be creative in so many different ways and to allow the kids to express themselves in different ways is really important,” she said. Musician Amy Sexton will be joining Gordon Primary School with Principal Russel Cowan saying the school is “committed to providing children with creative learning opportunities.” “[The initiative] provides children with the opportunity to experience success while also developing abilities that span across the curriculum. “This partnership also provides a platform to build relationships and employment opportunities between creative workers and schools,” he said. The Creative Workers in Schools initiative caters to students of all year levels at both primary schools.