From the Grow 2 Be Team …
At Grow 2 Be we feel excited for what the year will bring! We are so proud of everyone’s achievements to date, and we are ready to accomplish even more over the coming months. We love seeing everyone continue to come out of their shell, and love learning alongside each other.
Intentions and Aspirations …
We intend to explore more creative outlets in this quarter, starting with mosaicking (which is already underway!). We will also be going to the Officer Specialist School expo, as well as the Emerson School expo. Something we’re really excited for is the inclusion of weekend excursions for parents – our first one being a Wine and Chocolate tour this term.
Barista Course …
We love coffee and several of our participants wanted to complete a barista course! We contacted the Melbourne Coffee Academy, where they focus on understanding the theory behind the humble espresso. We excitedly locked in a date to complete the espresso course, as well as the latte art course over lunch.
Everyone totally enjoyed the learning process, and the delicious coffees everyone created were amazing.
We have had six of our participants complete the course, and have purchased a coffee machine for the program. Everyone is now able to continue practicing their skills.
Our Voice…
Jess – We had lots of fun learning to make coffee.
Paul – Learning the cool things.
Equine Therapy …
Our participants have been offered an incredible opportunity at Jabulani Sanctuary to work with horses. Through this process, they often discover how they can interact better with the people around them.
The benefits of equine therapy include:
- Reducing the effects of anxiety
- Improving social skills and communication
- Growing in confidence
- Increasing self-awareness
- Emotional regulation
- Learning how to be present
- Gaining peace
Wellness Mondays …
We start off our Mondays with some mindfulness and follow this up with going to Cardinia Life at Lakeside, Pakenham. Here, our participants can choose from spending time in the gym, playing basketball, or just shooting hoops and swimming after lunch.
Our voice…
Lucas – I like that we have three different options at the gym to do.
Kaitlin – I like swimming and jumping into the deep end.
Jess – Doing gym and playing basketball.
Paul – I love the swimming, the basketball, and the bike in the gym.
Samual – I love doing gym and basketball.
The Bluey and Alice Bunny Refuge …
The Bluey & Alice Bunny Refuge located in Cockatoo has been one of our constants throughout this lockdown. Our participants have looked forward to and enjoyed volunteering here every week – where taking care of animals is an essential service.
Our participants have had the opportunity to witness bunnies being bonded; being adopted; being nursed back to health and have even spent time seeing what happens when it’s “vet day” at the Refuge. Vet day involves weighing, measuring, checking diets, and ensuring all the bunnies are well and remaining in good health. Watching the baby bunnies grow and develop their own individual personalities have been great but saying goodbye to those that have been adopted has not been easy – as they have become favourites.
Our Voice …
Jess – It’s a fun experience to learn about feeding and watering the bunnies.
Riley – Volunteering at the Bunny Refuge is awesome.
Kaitlin – The bunnies are cute and adorable.
Brayden – They are cutie ‘patooties’.
Gembrook Wildlife Shelter …
Another month has passed, and we are still having the time of our lives, volunteering at the Gembrook Wildlife Shelter, where they take in and rehabilitate our native wildlife. We have had the privilege of bottle-feeding joeys, bottle-feeding wombats, giving fresh fruit and branches to the possums, feeding chickens and geese and helping with the cleaning of the cages, enclosures and the animals live. A highlight this month would have to be when Riley and Declan were given the privilege of naming one of the joeys – they decided to name her Jackie. We look forward to continuing our volunteering at the Wildlife Shelter.
Our Voice …
Riley: I enjoy feeding the kangaroos and the wombats; letting the chickens out and feeding the birds. I enjoy holding the joeys. They are always very happy to see us – especially if we have bottles to feed them.
Armchair Travel – Scotland (Literacy and Numeracy) …
We enjoy learning about new countries, and this term has been no different. We have researched
Scotland. Here are some lesser-known facts about Scotland:
- Their national animal is the Unicorn.
- The Encylopedia Britannica originated in Scotland.
- The world’s first colour photograph was taken in Scotland.
- There are around 300 castles in Scotland.
- The raincoat was invented in Scotland.
- Sir Alexander Fleming, credited with the discovery of penicillin, was born in Scotland.
Mosaicking …
We have really enjoyed learning all about the techniques of mosaicking. Our beautiful parent Irene has shared her time with us – taking us through the steps from inception to completion. She has been very patient and guided us through the process to make our creations come to life.
Our Voice…
Nik – I like making all the pieces fit and then gluing them down.
Brayden – I like all the different kinds of designs.
Lucas – It’s satisfying to smash things.
Kaitlin – Even though it was hard I gave it a go.
Riley – It was hard, but it looks awesome in the end.
Create a Micro-Business Course
As part of the learning that occurs at Grow 2 Be, our participants have shown an interest in learning about creating a micro business. Through the Access Australia Group, our participants are halfway through a course about gaining the skills to potentially create their own microbusiness.
Auslan – Language and Literacy …
Learning Auslan increases memory retention and motion processing while stimulating brain development and mental flexibility … and it’s a lot of fun. We laugh more than we learn but we are making steady progress. Taking the time to learn Auslan as a second language gives you a lifelong skill and increases your ability to communicate with members of Australia’s deaf community
Our Voice …
Nik: Communicating with deaf people
Riley: I like learning to sign my name
Lucas: Learning a new skill – and realising Auslan is not a country
Jess: Learning to do the different signs
Brayden: Learning how to do the signs correctly and signing my name
Bianca: Interesting to learn signs – we can create our own language between friendship groups
Our Cooking Program – Literacy, Numeracy and Technology …
Every week, our program involves cooking – generally our recipes relate to the country we are studying at the time. We also enjoy cooking some favourites, for example, stuffed capsicum, gnocchi, mini pizzas, homemade sausage rolls, sausages on a BBQ, or whatever dish our participants want to create.
Our cooking program involves sourcing recipes; researching items in Coles Online and pricing the items; working within a budget; using numeracy within the cooking program – weights and measures; participating in preparation and cooking – and participating in the setting of the table and cleaning up afterwards. All life skills we use on a daily basis.
Out and About Fridays …
For this term we have had varied interests on what to do on our Friday excursion day. Participants get involved with researching the location, planning the day, and making sure we get interesting places that suit everyone. Some of these activities include Puffing Billy, Gumbuya World, Moonlit Sanctuary, and our all-time favourites, bowling or going to the movies.
Our Voice…
Kaitlin – I loved our trip on Puffing Billy, it was so fun putting your legs out of the window.
Nik – I like going to the movies, my favourite was “Clifford the Big Red Dog”.
Jess – My favourite things to do on a Friday are the movies and bowling.
Lucas – My favourite thing to do on a Friday is bowling.
Brayden – I loved Puffing Billy and going to all different places.
Riley – I love going to the movies best, my favourite so far is “Clifford the Big Red Dog”.
Paul – My favourite thing to do is bowling.
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