Getting kids to ‘love’ school
TIFFANY Barton-Kitchin was bullied in Year 9, and by Year 10, it was so bad she dropped out of school.
But with the support of her mother, teachers and friends, Tiffany has finished Year 11 at the Jordan River Learning Federation at Bridgewater and is looking forward to returning next year to finish Year 12.
“I’ve come very far this year,” she said.
She now has certificates in agriculture and community services, and next year will focus on childcare, retail cosmetics and horticulture courses, with hopes to get a Certificate IV in child care.
Tiffany is not the only one who had a rough time at high school. Some of her Jordan River classmates have also overcome their own bad experiences, and are also proud of their achievements in Year 11.
One of Tiffany’s friends, Bree Ridgers, had not planned to continue her education beyond Year 10.
“In Grade 10 I got bullied and it turned me off going to college, but my mum and dad and my brother were a big part of trying to make me come along to college because they new I could go a long way,” Bree said.
“Tiffany was also a big part of that, too, because ... we stuck together and had each other’s support to force us to go to school.”
Bree said she felt welcome at Jordan River and has enjoyed her vocational course in community services. Next year, she will be studying for a Certificate II in retail cosmetics.
“I work at Priceline already, that’s a pretty good job, but I did want to go into the police force sometime,” she said.
The Jordan River Learning Federation has been offering some Year 11 and 12 courses for about seven years, but this year, under the State Government’s plan to extend high schools to Year 12, the number of courses offered has increased, along with the num- ber of students. The school, which includes a trade training centre and a farm, has a strong focus on vocational education and training.
This year, 70 students have finished Year 11 at the school, and almost 100 are so far enrolled in Year 11 and 12 courses next year.
“This is the first year we’ve got the bulk of our Year 10s coming straight up,” assistant principal Maree Conrad Wilson said.
“There are 20 students who we can’t accommodate the pretertiary education so they’re off to other colleges. A student can achieve their Tasmanian Certificate of Education [at Jordan River Learning Federation] but they can’t do any of the level 3 subjects.”
Hailee Henricks, who is taking vocational courses in hospitality and community services and will add retail cosmetics next year, says the environment at Jordan River has helped her enjoy school.
Like Tiffany and Bree, she was bullied at high school.
“In Grade 9 I dropped out ... it just didn’t work out at all and messed with my mental health.”
But Hailee said her mother was keen for her to return to school, and Ms Conrad Wilson also helped encourage Hailee to enrol in Year 11.
Initially, Hailee kept to herself because she just wanted to get through the year, but she has since made friends with fellow students, and her boyfriend, Keegan Benjamin, credited Hailee with getting him back to school.
“I had a rough patch in Grade 10 and it kind of threw me off going to Year 11 and 12 but ... [Hailee] was here three or four weeks before me and she basically said there’s not much drama here, there’s not many people, everyone gets along really well,” Keegan said.
“I’ve done really well here ... and I’m pretty happy with what we’ve achieved this year.
Keegan has been taking vocational courses in hospitality and construction and will continue with those subjects next year.
“I love coming here and Year 12 is going to be a good year for us,” he said.
Classmate CJ Watson, who moved to the area from Sydney, is also taking construction and hospitality courses, and automotive studies next year.
“Hopefully I want to get to work in a kitchen after Year 12 for a bit and change it up and go to construction,” he said.
“I wasn’t going to go to Year 12 but then I came here and now I’m going to Year 12 ... it gives me more opportunities in life and I get more success out of it.”
The students all realise how important completing Year 12 is.
“I really, really want to get my TCE [Tasmanian Certificate of Education],” Hailee said.
“I want to achieve that I want to put in the time and effort.”
The students are also very proud of their school and grateful for the opportunities it has given them.
“It’s a great atmosphere, the teachers are great [and a] good support,” Tiffany said.
“Don’t judge it just because we’re located in Bridgewater; there’s a lot that comes in and out of the school, like students, jobs, traineeships ... The school offers so much and there’s a lot of things that go unseen.
“It’s not the name of the suburb, it’s the people that make it.”
Don’t judge it just because we’re located in Bridgewater; there’s a lot that comes in and out of the school, like students, jobs, traineeships ... TIFFANY BARTON-KITCHIN