Girls hit tools for school

A GROUP of Clonard College students have teamed up with a local tradie to give Lisieux Catholic Primary School in Torquay a backyard blitz.

From a two storey cubby house converted into an elaborate chook pen, colourful school house bollards with Wathaurong bird names, to vertical vegetable gardens and a freshly painted rotunda, Clonard teacher Sarah Clark said it had been a fantastic experience for the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) students

“We wanted to develop our community partnerships and increase our student’s employability skills, Lisieux is a new school that’s developing so we thought it was a great opportunity to get involved whilst supporting our catholic identity.”

Ms Clark said Mark Gabell and Associates (local Torquay landscape contractors and gardeners) had donated their time this week as well as Bunnings and Tyrepower.

“The girls came out and met with the school principal Susan Ryan and got a brief on what she wanted to see happen to develop some learning spaces around the school. The girls then worked on the plans for about a term.

“This has exposed them to a whole other career path, a lot are doing childcare, hairdressing and beauty or community services, those sorts of things; they’ve really enjoyed it and it’s really out of their comfort zone.”

Lisieux principal Dr Ryan said they were contacted by Clonard who said they ran the program every year (normally at a residential property) and wanted to help the new school instead.

“The girls had to visit our site, make suggestions, do all the collaboration and then measuring planning.

“They have collaborated with us and then planned and designed several projects to enhance our outdoor learning space.”

Mr Gabell said the landscaping firm had worked at schools before but never with students and his staff all enjoyed the experience.

“We’re a local business and wanted to help out, it’s been good and something we’d probably do again.”