The teachers and parents of Tin Can Bay State School are thrilled to announce they are now a Hands-on-Learning School.
Hands on Learning (HOL) is an innovative in-school program used by primary and secondary schools to increase student achievement and the staff at Tin Can Bay are delighted it has been implemented at their school and begins this week.
There are four pillars to Hands on Learning including a place to belong, a place people belong to, real things to do and a chance to give back and make valuable contributions to the student community while building self-esteem and connection.
Deputy principal Sandy Lewis said any student could benefit from the program which was open to different year levels with different talents, learning styles, needs and interests.
“HOL supports a diversity of students to build on their aspirations, realise their potential and develop new skills for school and life. It helps build personal and social skills and supports the diverse ways young people learn.”
She said sometimes it was emerging school leaders who wanted to improve their communication and teamwork skills, or to help students overcome challenges that may impact on class
“We picked seven children for the first round who will not only benefit from the program, but they will also be really good role models for any future intakes of the program.”
“We felt it was an important addition to the school because it complements our current programs and it is the school, the students and the community who benefit.”
“While it’s an alternate avenue for learning, it’s also about life skills and adapting them to everyday life.
The children selected gave an expression of interest, we discussed it with their parents, we discussed it internally and offered them a place which they have all now accepted.
“We are thrilled with the quality of applicants and are excited to begin and know these students will thrive in the program.“
The seven students chosen are year 10 students, Luxie-Leigh Duffy-Findlater, Laney Heit and Tylah Hale, Grade 9 student Beau Stevenson, Grade 8 Britney Campbell, Grade 7 Joel Fechner, and Zane Mills from year six.
The program will be run by Jane Schwaghardt who is the ’Artisan Teacher’ and is run on site one day a week with the students in the program spending all day Friday on practical projects including building, making, fixing, growing, and creating.
“We went to Ipswich and Lowood and watched their schools and had the HOL representative to our school and when we are established other schools from further north will use ours as a showcase school.”
The program also gets students job ready increasing their personal and social skills and focuses on real and meaningful projects.
Hands on Learning is a Save the Children practical school program initiative which Eight-time Grand Prix winner and beloved Australian sports personality Daniel Ricciardo has joined as an official ambassador.
Sandy said she loves the fact that it is now a blank canvas, and it is an opportunity for us to create our space and she can’t wait to see what grows from it.
