Storytime at the Community House

HELPING the community and its citizens flourish is a key part of any town’s makeup and it’s no different in Torquay with Surf Coast Secondary College Year 9 students doing their bit to assist the next generation.

On Tuesday, five Year 9 students from the college took a group of preschool students and their parents through comprehensive literary activities to assist not only the students’ skills but also to foster and develop the skills of the next generation.

The program, which occurs every Tuesday at the Torquay Community House between 9.30-10am, is a key developmental program for the students to improving their literacy and mentoring skills while providing a much-needed service for the community.

“Our kids are amazing and so enthusiastic to help out the young ones through this career and development-based partnership with the Community House,” Surf Coast Secondary College teacher Katrina Simpson said.

“When we heard that the house were struggling to get people to run the storytime sessions, we got in touch and wanted to help out.

“The program is an amazing way of our students learning mentoring and teamwork strategies so that when they do move into the workforce and towards adulthood, they can have had that experience of being a role model and a teacher for these younger children.

“By exploring different themes in each week’s stories, as well as participating in building exercise with playdough and crafts, both the students and the young preschoolers get plenty of enjoyment.”

The storytime sessions have access to the top picture books in the country, with titles shortlisted for Book Week included during the half-hour morning program.

The college and the community house look forward to continuing the program long into the future.

To get your child involved in the program, email [email protected] or phone 5261 2583.