By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Narre Warren South P-12 College’s high-achieving VCAL program has been awarded a prestigious statewide prize.
The college received the VCL Chair’s Award for outstanding achievement in delivering its program.
Principal Rob Duncan told the awards ceremony at Federation Square on 26 May that the program was his greatest professional joy.
For many of the students, it was the first time that school “made sense”. And many have not turned back from that point, nurtured on a “positive culture of success”.
Since 2006, there have been 1977 graduates. From those, six are now employed at the school as a youth worker, a multi-cultural aide, a Registered Training Organisation manager, an ensemble director, a voice teacher, an attendance officer and a wellbeing receptionist.
Other graduates have gone onto nursing, policing, IT, masters degrees, child protection, tradies and other diverse vocations.
Mr Duncan praised his VCAL team, especially Kelly Lackmann who has received five VCAL teaching awards and led the program with “amazing enthusiasm and great care for every student”.
“There’s no question that her hard work, passion and belief that all students can achieve positive educational outcomes has made our program what it is.”
The award was presented by Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Narre Warren North MP Judith Couacaud Graley.
“Their exemplary program has gone from strength to strength over the past 11 years and I know so many students who have gone on to great careers thanks to their time in this program,” Ms Graley said.
Students from the school’s VCAL Foundation Team received a team achievement award for the school’s vertical wall garden project.
More than 30 kilograms of the garden’s vegetables had been donated to OzHarvest to feed homeless people across Melbourne.
It was the 20th team achievement award won by the school’s VCAL students.
