Hands On Learning

Gordonvale Pizza Oven

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:37:17 +0000

The HOL team at Gordonvale State High School have successfully completed their pizza oven. This report appeared in the local newspaper and attracted the support of the local member Curtis Pitt – read his press release here.

Kurnai College, Churchill

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:57:38 +0000

A small but dedicated crew are making their mark (literally) on Kurnai College. They have started off with maintenance jobs and built up to pouring slabs for the fresh new garden area, which has given the Hands On team the chance to thoroughly develop their confidence and skills.

Sale College celebrates Hands On Learning

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 05:04:45 +0000

At the end of April the Sale College HOL team fired up their pizza oven and invited present and past team members, along with their parents, families and teachers, to get together at the Sale HOL headquarters. They cooked 148 pizzas for a great roll up of over 100 people. The students were rightly very proud of themselves.

Northern Bay College, Geelong

admin — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 03:18:57 +0000

Students are building and installing a section of boardwalk for the You Yangs Mountain Bike Course, used by 70,000 people every year. Parks Victoria supplies the timber and hardware and the HOL team provide the labour to build, install and eventually ride on the trails at the You Yangs! There are always lots of projects around school too, including building a fitness circuit, decking and repairing school picnic tables.

Click below to see full photos…

National stage for Hands On

admin — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 08:45:39 +0000

Carrum Downs students, Ryan, Nathan and Maddie together with HOL artisan teacher Wayne Bollard travelled to Sydney in May to hit centre stage during the plenary session of the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition national conference.

Sponsored by the Dusseldorp Skills Forum, the opening session showcased best practice programs from across Australia. The Hands On team had a big impact on the 400+ audience, resulting in delegates queuing to speak to them and many ‘tweets’ about the demand for, and impact of Hands On Learning.

The need for speed

admin — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 08:43:24 +0000

Five local Hands On schools battled out the annual HOL Billycart championship in a series of time trials at the Marta Martha Scout Park in the last week of Term Two.

Literacy and numeracy tasks are built into the design and preparation of the Billycarts that students make from old bike parts, sized and shaped to race.

Outstanding teamwork was the order of the day with great team efforts dragging the carts back up the hill, repairing damage and cheering drivers from the Carrum Downs, McClelland, Frankston, Mornington and St Francis Xavier College teams.

Kicking goals

admin — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 08:41:32 +0000

The Hands On Learning team at Benalla College was awarded 1st Prize in the Get Out There Youth Awards 2011, taking out the Group Program Category in the 12-16 years old age group, against strong competition. The awards are co-ordinated by the Benalla Rural City and Benalla College.

Nominated by Year 9 student Jamielee (pictured 2nd left), Hands On was recognised for “making you a part of something, building things together.” “The program got me back on track when I was struggling at school,” Jamielee added.

“This award is a testament to the way Hands On Learning at Benalla College is really kicking goals”, according to Sabine Smyth, Volunteer Programs Coordinator, with the Tomorrow: Today Foundation, Benalla’s community foundation established and run by locals to fund local community projects.

“The transformation of kids who have otherwise lost their motivation at school and have now been empowered to make the most of school is inspiring,” she added. Tomorrow: Today sponsors Hands On Learning at Benalla College through its Education Benalla program which aims to improve the educational outcomes of local students.

Hands On Learning artisan-teacher Ed Bishop added that the program has had results in the life of the students beyond school. “Two of the participants got school based apprenticeships on the strength of the work skills they had learnt in the program.”

Image courtesy Tomorrow:Today Foundation

A winning formula

admin — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 08:39:39 +0000

Hands On Learning artisan-teachers Lloyd Smith and David Scarlett won the City of Greater Geelong 2011 IMPETUS Youth Award for the Environment for their work at Northern Bay College, along with a handy $500 for their school.

The awards not only celebrate the outstanding contributions of young people, but also recognize inspirational efforts of the likes of Lloyd and Dave who have worked with their students to build and install a section of boardwalk for the You Yangs Mountain Bike Course, used by 70,000 people every year.

Local Television Spotlight

admin — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 08:37:03 +0000

Hands On Learning’s community work came under the spotlight last term as Year 8 Sale College student Hayden confidently fielded questions from Win Television about his group’s contribution to a local sand dune rejuvenation project. Sale College’s Hands On Learning team joined other school groups on a Department of Sustainability and Environment job planting more than 1000 trees along the sand dunes just outside the Seaspray township.

News from the front line – October 2010

admin — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 10:31:12 +0000

Click here to view our October 2010 Update