HITTING the high seas, abseiling cliff faces and feeling the rush at a racetrack are all in a normal school day for students at Mackillop College.
To motivate Year 9 students, the Werribee school introduced hands-on, real life classes to students three years ago.
This week a group spent their time at the Altona Yacht Club learning to sail and rig a boat with Yachting Victoria’s mobile sailing school.
Year 9 teacher Mike Sarpi said the program, which sends students into the real world to learn, encouraged better relationships between peers and more responsibility.
“In Year 9 we look at alternative classes because the kids become bored,” Mr Sarpi said. “It motivates them and keeps them coming to school.
“Since we started it, we have found in Years 10 and 11 that they take up leadership positions and more responsibility.”
He said lessons were learnt by asking teachers questions, not studying textbooks or staring at the whiteboard.
“We get them abseiling, sailing and even to the Grand Prix,” he said.
“In the three years it has been going all the kids have loved the program and have felt sorry to let it go.
“We believe by going into the real world they can learn a lot.”
The mobile sailing school travels all over Victoria to teach students safe boating practices.
