Mortlake College has introduced the innovative (HOL) “Hands on Learning Program”. The program will run throughout the year. HOL takes eight students out of class one day a week fostering teamwork and leadership. Students and two artisan-teachers share breakfast and lunch and work together to create valuable building structures for the school and community
Students develop critical skills and abilities to succeed in work and life in the 21st Century:
Collaboration
Problem solving
Communication
Resilience
Empathy
Creativity
Self-esteem, friendships, and a sense of belonging grow as students become more content at school. Motivation, focus and the ability to set goals increase when they return to class - building the platform for improvements in literacy and numeracy.
The opportunity to succeed in a different environment builds self-belief and confidence, making their time back in the classroom more effective.
HOL started at Frankston High School in 1999 and now runs in schools right across Victoria. Artisan teacher Ben Cross & School Chaplin Ross Trahair will be working with the HOL team at Mortlake College.
Students develop critical skills and abilities to succeed in work and life in the 21st Century:
Collaboration
Problem solving
Communication
Resilience
Empathy
Creativity
Self-esteem, friendships, and a sense of belonging grow as students become more content at school. Motivation, focus and the ability to set goals increase when they return to class - building the platform for improvements in literacy and numeracy.
The opportunity to succeed in a different environment builds self-belief and confidence, making their time back in the classroom more effective.
HOL started at Frankston High School in 1999 and now runs in schools right across Victoria. Artisan teacher Ben Cross & School Chaplin Ross Trahair will be working with the HOL team at Mortlake College.
Some great feedback Mortlake College received last week from the Director of the Mortlake Kindergarten, Jane Gough, regarding our Hands on Learning team and work they have been doing at the kinder. It’s fantastic that the HOL students are able to provide support to community groups such as the Mortlake Kindergarten.
Dear Graeme
On behalf of the Mortlake Kindergarten parents, children and staff; I would like to sincerely thank the students and supervisors Ben & Ross for the work that they have completed on the Mortlake Kindergarten vegetable garden. We are extremely grateful to these students, supervisors and the Mortlake College for the assistance and time that has been provided to achieve this project for our Centre. This is a very clear indication of the interactive and supportive connection that the Kindergarten and Mortlake College have.
I would like to commend the students for the professional work that they have completed. All the students work very cohesively and efficiently as a group as well as displaying evident respect for the guidance and experience of Ben & Ross. Their skill level is commendable as well as their willingness to work and support each other. Their enjoyment and enthusiasm for this program is very clearly evident. I am very impressed by these students and the benefit of this program that your school provides.
Please accept my sincere gratitude to all those involved on this project.
Regards
Jane Gough
Mortlake Kindergarten Director
Dear Graeme
On behalf of the Mortlake Kindergarten parents, children and staff; I would like to sincerely thank the students and supervisors Ben & Ross for the work that they have completed on the Mortlake Kindergarten vegetable garden. We are extremely grateful to these students, supervisors and the Mortlake College for the assistance and time that has been provided to achieve this project for our Centre. This is a very clear indication of the interactive and supportive connection that the Kindergarten and Mortlake College have.
I would like to commend the students for the professional work that they have completed. All the students work very cohesively and efficiently as a group as well as displaying evident respect for the guidance and experience of Ben & Ross. Their skill level is commendable as well as their willingness to work and support each other. Their enjoyment and enthusiasm for this program is very clearly evident. I am very impressed by these students and the benefit of this program that your school provides.
Please accept my sincere gratitude to all those involved on this project.
Regards
Jane Gough
Mortlake Kindergarten Director
2018
The year has started enthusiastically with some new attendee’s we currently have 9 students in total which includes 5 boys and 4 girls. Work has already started on the new planter boxes / seating at the front of the undercover area.
More projects are on the agenda with continuing work in the community and at the rec reserve. It is a good mix this year with the older students re-entering the program being encouraged to help nurture the new students.
A coffee and cake service has been initiated to provide that much needed caffeine and cake fix for the teachers and staff on a gold coin donation bases with the funds going back into the Hands on Learning program.
Our main current project at the moment is taking up most of the time erecting planter boxes and some much needed seating for undercover area near bbq’s. This project we started late last year and hope to finish it this term.
Looking forward to a productive year and we hope to make a difference for all involved.
More projects are on the agenda with continuing work in the community and at the rec reserve. It is a good mix this year with the older students re-entering the program being encouraged to help nurture the new students.
A coffee and cake service has been initiated to provide that much needed caffeine and cake fix for the teachers and staff on a gold coin donation bases with the funds going back into the Hands on Learning program.
Our main current project at the moment is taking up most of the time erecting planter boxes and some much needed seating for undercover area near bbq’s. This project we started late last year and hope to finish it this term.
Looking forward to a productive year and we hope to make a difference for all involved.
Hands on Learning have been busy this year, apart from smaller repairs and projects and refurbishments, we have finally finished the seating and planter boxes for under cover area for school. (see pics) We hope the seating will be well used and the new plants add a nice touch.
This has been a main project we started late last year and all students have worked well to help put it all together and contribute in the design aspects. Well done HOL!
Term 2 we have started and focusing on more works into the community mainly the DC Farren Rec Reserve. There are quite a few tasks there to undertake such as… painting existing undercover areas/fencing around oval, construct a new pathway for seating area and design a new outdoor space for tennis and netball rooms and signage.
We have a few new members that have joined HOL this year which has been great for the group, overall morale is high and looking forward to see the new members grow and challenge themselves in a positive ways.
Hands on Learning! Ben Cross & Ross Trahair
This has been a main project we started late last year and all students have worked well to help put it all together and contribute in the design aspects. Well done HOL!
Term 2 we have started and focusing on more works into the community mainly the DC Farren Rec Reserve. There are quite a few tasks there to undertake such as… painting existing undercover areas/fencing around oval, construct a new pathway for seating area and design a new outdoor space for tennis and netball rooms and signage.
We have a few new members that have joined HOL this year which has been great for the group, overall morale is high and looking forward to see the new members grow and challenge themselves in a positive ways.
Hands on Learning! Ben Cross & Ross Trahair
This term the HOL team have been busy with a variety of different jobs around the school and in our local community. Our main projects have been making props for the F-4 production, designing and building a pump cover for the water meter that’s located out the front of the MSC office (see about pictures) and getting started on our sensory/sanctuary garden which will start to take shape now we are getting into the better weather.
We asked the kids to share something about the HOL program, here is what they said;
“HOL is good for learning new skills and you can get a lot out of it”
“I like HOL because we get to engage with others in the school and help with things like the school production and formal and other stuff”
“In HOL we have done a lot around the school like the gaga pit and a lot of other things”
“A project I liked working on was the gaga pit. It took a bit of thinking and working out, trying to get all the angles correct. It was tricky but we did it”
“Today we lifted the aquaponics up and started to plan a camp with Hawkesdale HOL, we had to ring and get costs of places we wanted to visit”
“I like HOL coz I am learning new skills, today I learned how to use a chisel and a hand saw”
“I like HOL because I get to make new friends and get to learn new things”
If you are a part of the Mortlake community and would like to come and share your trade/craft with us we would love to hear from you. Please call Kelly Giblin 0438 624 550
We asked the kids to share something about the HOL program, here is what they said;
“HOL is good for learning new skills and you can get a lot out of it”
“I like HOL because we get to engage with others in the school and help with things like the school production and formal and other stuff”
“In HOL we have done a lot around the school like the gaga pit and a lot of other things”
“A project I liked working on was the gaga pit. It took a bit of thinking and working out, trying to get all the angles correct. It was tricky but we did it”
“Today we lifted the aquaponics up and started to plan a camp with Hawkesdale HOL, we had to ring and get costs of places we wanted to visit”
“I like HOL coz I am learning new skills, today I learned how to use a chisel and a hand saw”
“I like HOL because I get to make new friends and get to learn new things”
If you are a part of the Mortlake community and would like to come and share your trade/craft with us we would love to hear from you. Please call Kelly Giblin 0438 624 550