Berry Street Web Docs BEST Centre Annual Report 2011 | Page 10

Muso Magic In 2011, students at the Noble Park campus enthusiastically participated in the Muso Magic program. We are grateful for the support of Arts Victoria and the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation which made it possible for this program to be run at the school. The program started with a ‘Kickstart’ Student Workshop which introduced the program to students and generated enthusiasm for the weekly sessions which followed. The initial workshop showed students that they have the capacity to write songs, and sing. The video made from that workshop set a high standard and was viewed with great pride by all involved. The program was run during Term 4, 2011 and will continue in Term 1, 2012. Students involved in the program have developed an understanding of the process of music production, and learnt to use a music software program at a basic level. Several of the students were involved in public performances of their material: firstly at the Berry Street Christmas Party where they performed to about 400 guests, and also at the end of school celebration in 2011 where they performed to an enthusiastic audience of parents, carers and case managers. Domain 9: Providing a nurturing, attractive and accessible physical environment School Development An attractive, well cared for physical environment is an important part of the provision of education for our students. At the Noble Park campus we have worked hard over the past three years to improve teaching spaces and student amenities. In 2011, we were fortunate to secure a grant from the Australian Government through the Block Grant Authority administered by Independent Schools Victoria. This grant enabled us to build a beautiful new art room and a kitchenette in the student recreation area. Our breakfast and lunch program is integral to the engagement and care of our students, and the new kitchenette has become a focal point for this program. We were also able to build a new office space for the Education Support Services team of education case managers and tutors whose outreach work is so important for our students. Extensive renovations are also underway to ready the Shepparton campus for its opening at the beginning of 2012. The Morwell campus is also currently searching for a new site, having outgrown the current site at Driffield Road. * Page 9 *