YEAR 12 students at Victory Lutheran College in Wodonga wanted to make a difference in the community last Thursday.
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The entire cohort of 26 visited Lutheran Aged Care as part of muck up day celebrations, spending time with residents instead of throwing water bombs or spray paint.
Preparations were made earlier in the year for the visit, with previous year 12 groups also visiting similar places around the area.
Head of senior school Tim Hartwich said the college curriculum had an emphasis on community.
“We try and instil a sense of community in students over their time here,” he said.
“It’s a tradition that started with our first year 12 cohort in 2009
“Ever since then they’ve chosen what they want to do.”
Mr Hartwich said the classroom was not the only type of teaching available to students.
“Education is a lot more than simply academics,” he said.
“It is about the whole person, and if people don’t contribute to society, society is poorer for it.”
The engagement from the aged care residents with students gave them a unique insight as they transition into the real world.
“For our kids who about to go out and start living their life it just gave them perspective,” Mr Hartwich said.
Students Maddy Paech, Lucy House and Shanley Dempster, all 17, re-iterated the fact the experience was exciting and beneficial.
“It has been such a privilege and that’s why it was so exciting,” Maddy said.
“We were able to give back to the community after they gave us so much during our schooling.”
Shanley said she was able to take motivation from the stories she heard.
“Hearing their stories from when they finished school, we can take inspiration from them and what they’ve done,” she said.
They were also clued in on applying the traits and characteristics of residents at the aged care home.
“I want to go into nursing, so I found I can apply the kind and caring qualities that they showed to us when we visited and heard their stories,” Maddy said.
The idea of being able to do something different on their last day resonated with Shanley and Maddy.
“Even though we have the traditional idea of a muck up day, I found this was a better way to do it,” she said.
“Not only are other people benefitting from it, but so are we by furthering our connections with people."
Lucy said her teachers had glowing praise for her and her friends after the visit.
“They did show a lot of appreciation for us and were proud of how far we’ve come,” she said.
