Students in Years 11 and 12 are offered an opportunity complete the Connect program, which is designed to meet current needs of senior students and also prepare them for independent living
Leaving home is a time when gaps can appear in what students traditionally learn at school.
These so-called adulting skills cover mundane but essential tasks from budgeting, shopping and laundry to voting, renting and buying a car.
Recognition of these gaps led to the creation of Connect, a program offered to all Year 11 and 12 students at BRSC.
Jade Walkington is the leader for Year 11 and 12 wellbeing and engagement and she said the Connect program was designed to meet current needs of senior students and also prepare them for independent living.
“The feedback we’ve received over the years is that there are gaps that they just don’t learn anymore and we don’t cover at school if you don’t do those particular subjects,” Ms Walkington said.
“We look at skills they need while they’re with us at school but also skills they will need when they leave us, pretty much ‘adulting-101’.”
Recently Connect students learnt about healthy eating, preparing chicken burrito bowls.
Year 12 student Maddi said she appreciated having meal options that she could cook at home.
“For the burrito bowls today we have rice and we’re going to add chicken, corn, beans, lettuce, tomato and grated cheese and red onion,” she said.
“I’ve cooked it before for my family at home and they enjoyed it.”
Fellow Year 12 students Harvey and Jacob were preparing their chicken and vegetables for the dish.
“It has lots of veggies, lots of chicken, I would definitely make this at home,” Harvey said.
Jacob agreed it could be a chance to test his cooking skills at home.
“I don’t do much cooking at home, but it might change because I do want to learn to cook,” he said.
