NEWS DESK
Schools follow pathway to success Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au
Crittenden leads the way in wine WINEMAKER Rollo Crittenden, above, has been appointed president of Mornington Peninsula Wine , previously known as the Mornington Peninsula Vignerons Association (MPVA). This organisation represents peninsula winemakers and grapegrowers and was established in 1982. Mr Crittenden’s father Garry helped establish and is a former president of the MPVA.
Online raffle RYE Lions Club has gone online for its annual raffle, with a first prize of a $3000 10.5 metre propelled kayak and second prize of two smaller kayaks $1800. Tickets drawn 5 December. Tickets can be bought online at raffletix.com.au/ryelionskayakraffle
AN EDUCATION program at Western Port Secondary College is said to be achieving its goal of ensuring that every student meets expected academic benchmarks – from kinder through to year 12. The Learning Guarantee program, initiated and financed by the Mornington Peninsula Foundation, is part of the Western Port Education Pathway. “We realised we needed a new approach to keeping kids engaged … from falling through the cracks,” foundation executive director Stephanie Exton said. “Now, thanks to the dedicated staff across all programs, we’re seeing more and more children and young people reigniting their excitement for learning.” The Western Port Education pathway coordinates three of the foundation’s programs from kinder through to year 12. These include No Limits from kinder to year 3, which focuses on oral language and literacy, aiming for every child to be on the reading “bus” by year 3; the Learning Guarantee which focuses on upper primary so all children are ready for transition to secondary school by the end of year 6, and, Elevate, which aims to ensure every student in secondary school is on track to complete year 12 or equivalent. Western Port Secondary College principal Chris Quinn said principals leading the community approach focused on improving students’ academic abilities while ensuring the links to other groups involved, such as Western
The Learning Guarantee program “team” is Chris Quinn, Tina Coumbe, Emma Slater and Ross Wettenhall. Port Community Support, operating out of Peninsula Health, are in place to support their families. “With the first cohort of primary students transitioning into year 7 at Western Port Secondary College next year, the evidence of the impact of these projects can be seen in enrolment numbers which are increasing year on year,” Mr Quinn said. “We have 139 year 6 students from across our community who have selected Western Port Secondary College as their school of choice for
2021, up from 116 in 2020 and 89 in 2016. “In partnering with the Mornington Peninsula Foundation on these projects, we’re making a really positive difference to the lives and outcomes of young people across the community of Hastings.” Mr Quinn said the Learning Guarantee followed a visit to the Harlem Children’s Zone in New York in 2017 to review a community approach to supporting families and students along their academic journey.
Money came after then-college principal Michael Devine won the Commonwealth Teacher of the Year award. Mr Quinn and Tyabb Railway Station Primary School principal Emma Slater also attended. “Western Port Education is about working together to break the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage, from the ground up,” Ms Exton said. Primary schools in the Western Port Secondary College catchment are Crib Point, Tyabb Railway, Wallaroo, Hastings and Bittern.
ADVERTISMENT
Life down by the seedy side Western Port is well known for its seaside vistas along with world class restaurants and wineries. However, there are some less desirable attractions sought out in this picturesque beach side location and with Victoria in uncertain times, living with the threat of another possible Covid 19 lockdown at any time, it’s no surprise that people’s day to day lives are in a major upheaval and in need of some reprieve. Companies like Netflix are booming as people escape from a lifestyle resembling house arrest, to relish in a smorgasbord of fantasy series offered on many of the video streaming platforms. For some people, that fantasy morphs into reality and becomes life imitating art. Of course this isn’t new, it’s been happening since the dawn of time, but add promiscuous dating apps like Tinder and Ashley Madison into the mix making it so much easier to get caught up in the vortex of sordid pleasure where it can easily spiral out of control. Getting caught up in a web of lies, stories, and fake alibies, the house of cards just gets higher and higher until eventually it all comes crashing down, and the participants swept up in this surreal life, either by choice or default are left to pick up the pieces. The husband, whose business built up over a lifetime, is now at risk. PAGE 8
Western Port News
30 September 2020
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