The Making Waves Program volunteers worked with our students with kindness, compassion, patience and brought with them knowledge and expertise, while provided guidance and encouragement in demonstrating new skills. The volunteers shadowed our students over the following weeks and taught them the tactics that come with sailing a yacht all while getting them to learn to be active yacht participants! Seeing the students out of their environment and on a yacht like this was wonderful, as witnessing the students come to life and actively connect with both staff, peers and the volunteers and felt as if it was rewarding for all. As staff members, it was a rare opportunity to gain another insight into what these students are capable of outside of their day-to-day school environment.
Enrich their school life experiences
There were two standout young men in the first term program that enjoyed and excelled so much in this experience that they were encouraged and afforded another opportunity to return in the second term with other newer students. This then gave the second group of student’s peers mentors and meant that those male students could demonstrate their newly found skills and passion for being on the water with them. Seeing these two young males who are often seen out of class and disruptive find purpose and meaning was astounding for us as staff and were compelled to feedback to the rest of the staff in a whole staff meeting what we had experienced. Much to the wonderment of some of their teachers!
Seeing these two young males who are often seen out of class and disruptive find purpose and meaning was astounding
As a result, one of those male students has signed on to attend the Boat-Building Program and the other male student dreams of being a yachtsman in his future career.
The attendance for some of the other students involved in the program improved on the days that the Making Waves Program was on, and they seemed to be present at school specifically each Wednesday, when in the past they would have otherwise avoided school that day. I believe that this was no coincidence and stands to the theory that engaging programs can have positive effects on students improving and maintaining attendance.
The volunteers also dealt with one of the other challenges that adolescents these days face, in being hooked on carrying and looking at their mobile phones, it was satisfying that the volunteers took control of this situation and asked our students to put their phones in a box that was safely stored under the deck for the entirely of the sail, this made so much difference to how they then were attentive and connected to one another and to the adults while on the yacht.
We at NSC are so grateful for the Making Waves Program and have recommended this in the community as well as in our professional networks.
Felicity Dewar & Marni Lundon-Johnson
Newcomb Secondary College