The Senior School.

The Senior School of St.Vincent's Education Centre has 3 important functions:

To access relevant,continuing education for age appropriateness students.

To access relevant work experience, and to develop employment orientation and workplace skills.

To develop practical living skills.

Key Goals.

Through these areas,The Senior School aims to:

Promote self confidence, social and adaptive behaviours

Provide career guidance.

Credentialise academic standing.

Provide a viable alternative to expectations of failure or "dropping out"

Provide students with an individualised learning package.

Provide a contingency for school refusers by orienting them towards the workplace and the expectations of adult society.

Continuing Education.

A number of older students(13-15) may not return to mainstream schools,but may also not benefit substantially from study within St.Vincent's Junior School.For these students,it is important to maximise opportunities to continue education in a way that is relevant to their needs,achievable by students,and vocational in focus. This would usually mean study of core secondary subjects,trade and technical training,or a combination of both.

Royal Meblourne Institute of Technology has proved valuable for students who who need a disciplined approach to study and find security in a system where they are tied to a timetable,and where their entry levels are testable or predictable. Such students have usually undertaken upper secondary level English and Mathematics. Other students at TAFE,or undertaking correspondence study,are supported in choosing study areas which are appropriate to their needs and interests,and receive guidance in their work.In each of these programs,students continuously receive feedback from their tutors who assess the assignments submitted at the end of each unit.

Work Experience.

Where possible,students are linked to "on the job" experience in suitable and available areas. This gives the student a valuable introduction to future career options,enables him to co-operate in an employer/employee relationship as well as with workmates,orientates him towards the workplace,and may be a basis for future employment or study.

A number of successful work experience contracts have taken place.Recent examples include Road Freight Jockey (LINFOX), Shop Assistant (TOYS R US), Road Works Assistant(SOUTH MELBOURNE CITY COUNCIL),Maintenance HandCITY BATHS),and Apprentice Motor Mechanic(LOTUS CAR AUSTRALIA)

Living Skills.

Students are encouraged towards greater independence by undertaking daily disciplines that will help them to negotiate adult society. This will include a wide range of everyday skills such as: making and keeping appointments,using public transport,locating important reference and resource centres,using newspapers and other sources of information,following a timetable,accessing Government departments,job searching,networking,and planning,etc.

Students in the Senior School who are undertaking futher education will be expected to maintain the schedule which their course demands,but may also be required to participate in living skills development activities,where time allows.

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