St. Bernards College 2013 Yearbook #1 | Page 52

Faculty Gateway T lourful & Challenging Change Co his year the Gateway program and Career’s department lost a very dedicated and committed woman who served the boys and the school well. She will be missed and we want to acknowledge May Lax for the work she has done for the school and the Gateway program and wish her all the best. local businesses who have supported the boys in their placements. did retail and really made the most of this opportunity. Some of the boys found it difficult and realised that some jobs are not what they expected and they made a few changes. We also had boys who really stepped up and made something of themselves by working hard and gaining part time jobs from those placements. They all finished it and passed the written book work that was required of them. I came into the job with very big shoes to fill. I have had an amazing time this year with the role as Gateway Broker. I have managed to slot into the Gateway and Careers team well and have implemented some of my own ideas and utilised my skills that I brought to the program. I have found the boys welcoming and they have been great to work with this year. Paasi Fine was offered a job from Placemakers and so was Terry Watkins. Jordan Garrow also got a part time job from Espresso Café.We had boys doing many different jobs and careers pathways. This year we had 14 boys from the construction class and they were placed with builders and joiners. We also had motor mechanics and some doing I.T. technician type work. Some of the boys did youth work, sport coaching or outdoor activities. There were 35 boys to be placed with an employer and we managed to do that with ease, despite the late start that I had this year. I am very fortunate to have some existing and new contacts with some of the 50 I really have made a good bond with the boys and have had the opportunity to work closely with them to make decisions for their career or pathway to their future. Boys like Johnny Vaelei and David Manase who found it difficult to find their place in the school, as well as the program, were able to achieve and make a plan for what they will do when leaving St Bernard’s College. To sum up the year I would say it’s been a very colourful, challenging and exciting one and I’m hoping to see more of that next year Mr Shaka Sola Gateway Broker This year The Warehouse set up a program called the ‘Red Shirt Program’, which offered 27 Level 2 credits. We had eight boys who St Bernard’s College 2013