Community Service Program Forum

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Community Service Program Forum

• Willetton Senior High School
• Presented By Beris Kelly

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Willetton Senior High School

• School Population 1800 Students
• 165 Staff
• 370 Year 10 Students
• 360 Year 11 Students
• School Day consists of 5x1 Hour sessions except
  930 1045 which includes 15 minutes tutor
  group time
• Year 11 Lifecare runs 930 1045 session
• Multicultural School

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Year 11 Lifecare

• Has been running for past 10 years
• Consists of recreation units, community service
  and health issue presentations
• Is compulsory for all Year 11 students
• There are 4 classes on at the same time
• Operates on a rotational basis

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Places We Visit Castlereagh School

• Each day 6 students visit Castlereagh School to
  assist students with disabilities.
• Activities include helping in the classroom,
  helping with Physical Education, and assisting
  the teachers to take the students to the shopping
  centre
• Castlereagh is on the same campus as WSHS.

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Places We Visit Castledare Village

• Activities include
• Playing scrabble
• Playing Cards
• Wheelchair Walks
• Reading the newspaper to visually impaired
  residents
• Reminiscing about the good old days

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Places We Visit Airforce Association

• Activities include
• Playing scrabble
• Cooking activities eg making Easter eggs
• Playing Cards/ Dominoes/Board Games
• Hand massages and painting fingernails
• Reading newspaper

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Places We Visit Herald Avenue Aged Care and
Wesley Take Time

• Wesley Take Time Program provides activity
  centres for adults with disabilities Activities
  include
• Table Tennis
• Card Games
• Scrabble
• Connect Four
• Boccee

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Places We Visit Southern Cross Care

• Activities include
• Music students performing for residents
• Bingo
• Cooking
• Wheelchair walks
• Card games
• Morning Teas
• Skittles
• Carpet Bowls

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Special Needs

• Time of Day is important need to fit in with
  organizations.
• Need time to get to and from the venues
• Need to bus students to the venues
• We have 2 staff members for the class on
  community service
• Rotation of classes so all students complete 8
  hours of community service
• Need school administration to be supportive

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Challenges

• Service Activity Management Plan has to be
  completed for all places
• Amount of time with the residents especially if
  they are not ready when we arrive
• Sometimes the venues have other activities
  organized for that day eg concerts
• The co-ordinator at the venue (usually an
  occupational therapist) needs to be supportive

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Rewards

• Students build a caring relationship with their
  resident.
• Students experience the benefits of volunteering
• Students get an insight into the world through
  the eyes of the elderly or disabled
• Students receive a certificate to put on their
  portfolio which recognizes their contribution to
  the community
• The residents benefit by interacting with the
  younger generation, playing their favourite games
  with them and reminiscing about the past
• I always get pleasure seeing the students and the
  residents building a rapport over the 8 weeks we
  visit.
• Students who speak other languages can make a
  huge difference to residents who only have
  limited english.

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Some Positive Outcomes

• One of out ex students is now working as an
  occupational therapist at Castledare
• Several students have continued as volunteers at
  the places they visited
• All students experience the positives of
  volunteering and will hopefully continue to make
  a difference in peoples lives
• Students learn values and respect.

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Activities Undertaken by Year 10 Willetton
Students This Year

• In School Activities include
• Assisting at sporting carnivals
• Mentoring reading at the primary school
• Computer links program
• Administration assistant
• Canteen assistant
• School clean up days
• Worlds greatest Shave
• Drama and Dance productions
• Arts leaders
• Assisting with multicultural week
• Fund raising for various organizations
• Ushering for parent evenings etc
• Creating a school mural

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Activities Undertaken By Year 10 Willetton
Students This Year

• Out Of School Activities include
• Assisting the running of many sporting events
  (unpaid)
• Relay for Life
• Assisting at Aged Care Facilities
• Planting Trees
• 40 hour famine
• Wildlife rescue
• Surf lifesaving patrol
• Assisting at public libraries
• St John Ambulance cadets
• Scouts
• Assisting Red Cross
• Waitressing at an international conference
• Assisting at various church activities