TGIF – Thank Goodness It’s Friday (weekly newsletter)

Friday March 2nd 2012

Well, two Fridays have passed but I would like to make this a tradition for BP:UL (Big Picture: UnReal! Learning.

TGIF is a tradition in most BP schools and was introduced by one of it’s founders, Denis Littky, who wanted a way to share all the good things that were happening with students, parents and staff.

This video has Dennis Littky talking about how Big Picture started: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbpqVPtUIFQ

These are MY thoughts and as time goes on I would like the students to develop a TGIF newsletter each week which could include my thoughts.

Our first two weeks have been great, interesting, frustrating, disappointing at times, but oh so encouraging with so many opportunities to come.

We are all looking forward to moving into the BP:UL House in Maude St and looks like we will do this on Friday 9th March.

Highlights for the past 2 weeks

Students have completed all sorts or challenges such as scavenger – learning to solve problems and work together
Trivia Competitions between advisories
Trip to KidsTown and Pool Party at Allison Darlow’s House (thanks Leeanne)
Swim and games at the Goulburn River
Students learning about Advisory and how important it is for there to be trust and respect
Planning for camp at Gilwell Park in Gembrook
Students helping UCCE staff – setting up BP:UL house, Britnee C with Ronni and Bonnie with Bron
Brad and Aaron S helping JR with the new fence, tables, sandpit and much more
Save a Mate program – run by Purple
Happy Hour (last hour on Fridays) – learning how to congratulate and appreciate each other
Happy Hour speaker – Alex Bruinier from The Bridge
A number of students have already secured Shadow Days (1 day work experience)
Sean T has been offered an apprenticeship in building with his mentor
Many students are show initiative and confidence visiting businesses and asking for Shadow Days

A big thank you to all students and parents for their trust in us as a team and we look forward to sharing more great stories and achievements.

Happy Hour in the Hall with Alex Bruinier (The Bridge) our first guest speaker

Geoff Allemand

(And our team, Jen, JR Ange and Monty)

March 3, 2012 by geoffallemand

More than Dropouts

Big Picture: Unreal! Learning has had its first two weeks of ‘school’. I would personally like to use another word other than school (due to the negative connotations it has for many of our students), but they still call what we have and are doing…school.

This week our local paper published our “story” and highlighted that most of our students are dropouts. We were really happy with the article on the whole but felt we did not want to be labelled as a school for dropouts when in fact many of them DID NOT drop out. I would rather say that they bravely left the traditional school system because it was not meeting their needs or was harmful to their well-being.

I think they are brave because they chose not be be compliant any longer and wanted something else that could engage them for who they are and give them the opportunity to follow their dreams.

I hope that by joining our Big Picture: UnReal! Learning they will be able to find their interests and embrace their passion.

This would be UnReal! for all concerned.