"I made this self portrait painting (image on left below) in IEC Art class. I used different colours to show my emotions in each part in life and as the name implies, this painting represents the emotions, and the monsters inside each person that appear at different times.
I also used black lines in my portrait painting to show that these are as the experiences that make us up. I'm grate full to my teacher for which taught us a new meaning of life.
I like painting because it makes me feel good."
As part of Callaghan College Waratah’s commitment to supporting the needs of students from refugee backgrounds, we have a long-standing partnership with Northern Settlement Services to deliver a weekly study and homework centre after school on Thursdays.
Staffed by a volunteer co-ordinator and tutors, the program links students with tutors who support them with assessment tasks, homework, reading, preparing for portfolio presentations, resume writing, scholarship and online job applications.
Students are encouraged to choose and direct what they need to work on for each session and they form strong and positive connections with their assigned tutors throughout the year.
For part of the year the program was delivered remotely via zoom to a small number of students.
Waratah Campus highly values this program and we look forward to its continuation in 2021.
Since 2017 Waratah Campus has hosted a weekly Capoeira Angola program to support students from refugee backgrounds. Capoeira is an Afro-Brazillian cultural art-form comprising movement, music and song that promotes confidence, teamwork & wellbeing.
This year, two students form Waratah Campus were given the opportunity to begin training as assistant teachers for the Project Bantu Capoeira Program.
The program is designed to develop leadership skills in our students and offer them work and life experience and potential future employment opportunities within the Project Bantu. The program consists of 20 students across NSW from Coffs High, Orara High, Murry High, Emmaus Catholic College, Callaghan College Wallsend and we are proud to say Neema and Claude from Callaghan College Waratah.
Claude Bakumeza and Neema John, both in year 9 , were selected to join students from around NSW who meet weekly via zoom for group tutoring sessions to learn more about the history of capoeira , practice and refine their skills and learn about facilitating sessions with other students.
To celebrate Refugee Week in 2020 students and staff from across our three College campuses produced a video “Celebrating the Year of Welcome."