New South Wales
Country Areas Program
Projects That Really Make a Difference!

Project: Evening Learning Partnerships
Type: Denilquin District Initiative
Coordinators: Maryanne Ritchie, Ian Russell
Participating Schools:Tooleybuc CS, Piangil PS
Attributes addressed: Self, Communication, Literacy, Numeracy, Technology, Self Directed Learning.

Overview:

The Evening Learning Partnerships initiative is an innovative program which has enormous potential to enhance student learning outcomes and establish Tooleybuc Central as a community focal point for lifelong learning. It will provide student K - 12 with greatly expanded access to resources and technologies and will promote effective partnerships between school and community. The intiative will strengthen bonds between the school and its local community, enhance students aspirations, confidence, self esteem and motivation resulting in enhanced learning outcomes.

This initiative provides enhanced access to support for learning beyond school hours, providing an effective homework study centre and study support groups for senior students and their parents thus providing a community focus for lifelong learning.

Implementation:

The program involves opening and staffing the Tooleybuc Central School Library one night a week from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. providing a wide range of activities, including:

• A homework study centre for students K-12. Resources and expertise will be available to support student learning, including access to computer technology. Parents will be encouraged to accompany their students, participate in a variety of programs to support their student's learning, as well as interacting with staff to gain a greater awareness of learning being undertaken by their students and ways in which they can support this process. A study skills program will be delivered at point of need on these evenings. Study skills and motivational speakers will be involved.
• Senior study teams will run on these evenings. These groups, involving 4-6 students, a staff mentor and parents will aim to support academic success in the HSC. The staff mentor will coordinate the provision of skills necessary for effective group operation and monitor the progress of individual learning team members. Parents as team members will be involved in programs to enable them to more effectively support their students achievements.
• A variety of programs aimed at skilling parents and providing resources to assist them to support their children's learning will be provided. Literacy, numeracy and technology will be the major focus areas. Computing programs for parents, internet access and programs to support literacy and numeracy learning will be provided. This will be linked to evening Office Skills and Computer courses being offered through Deniliquin TAFE in 1999. Issues such as motivation, promoting self esteem, gender issues and transitions to school will be addressed.
• While the major focus is the enhancement of student learning outcomes, a strong community focus will exist with activities relating to health issues, self esteem, art, music, utilising technology, preparing CVs etc. Community access to and the borrowing of resources will be promoted.