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June 2011 No. 2
NEWSLETTER
Hi to all in the YMAP family,
I officially loathe winter. My only joy in getting up each morning is knowing that I’ll be going into a school and seeing all you extraordinary people doing such terrific work with wonderful young people.
And if you don’t realise just how much difference you can make to one young life, please read the following testimonial from a young lady who was in YMAP at Essendon Keilor College a couple of years back. I met her again recently when she volunteered to come back and work in the mentoring program. This is her journey.
“My name is Jess and in 2008 I participated in the Mentoring program run by Maribyrnong and Moonee Valley LLEN.
Back then, I remember the first time I saw my new timetable and on Fridays it said I had “Pathways”. I was confused as I didn’t know what class this was. Everyone was telling me that it was for dumb people that had difficulty with school. Although I wasn’t that great at something’s at school, I knew for a fact that I wasn’t dumb!
Friday morning came around and I sat in the pathways class waiting curiously to know exactly what it would be about. Then Greg came in and explained that he was running a mentoring program. As he kept talking about it I started to understand more and was looking forward to having a mentor as a role model, someone I could get advice from.
More importantly the mentors told us of their experiences as they went through school and it was clear that they could identify with the way I was feeling now.
Being part of this program really helped me a lot and encouraged me to know that if I put my mind to it, I could do anything. I realised that just because I’m not that good at one thing, it doesn’t mean that I’m not good at other things. I was never good at maths but my mentor told me that maths wasn’t really required in every job and that there is so much MORE out there!
Even though I was a year 10 student and I wasn’t finishing my final year of high school she sat down with me and looked at courses to see what I liked and what I thought I was good at. This mentoring program reminded me that I did have skills and not to stress too much because one way or another I could get into a course that would interest me.
It was really an honour to be a part of this mentoring program. It changed everything! I was no longer stressed and looked forward to finishing year 12 and go to the next level!
I’ve now completed year 12 and am a student in youth work and loving it!”
Wonderful stuff and as I’ve related to most of you so many times, regardless of what you may think at the time, you can and are making a positive difference in the lives of our young people. And as always, I thank you for that. You people continue to amaze me!
Just a reminder that we still have second semester program commitments to fulfil and right now our numbers are DREADFUL, particularly in the two Essendon Keilor College programs, where we’ve always set high standards and I would hate not to continue in that manner.
As usual, if you may be interested in any other following programs please let myself or Karina know. Pretty please!
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NO.
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SCHOOL
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SUBURB
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TIME
(Approx)
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DAY
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STARTS
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ENDS
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MIN.
MENTORS
NEEDED
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STUDENT
NUMBERS
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5
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Braybrook (Yr.11)
Secondary College
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Braybrook
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P 5 – 6
(Plus after school#)
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Mon
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Aug 15
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Nov 14
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8
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13
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6
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Footscray City
Secondary College
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Footscray
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P 3 – 4
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Fri
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July 22
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Sept 23
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8
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15
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7
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Essendon Keilor
College
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East Keilor
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P3-4
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Tues
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Aug.2
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Oct.25
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12
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24
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8
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Essendon Keilor
College (2)
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Niddrie
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P 3 – 4 and
P 5 – 6
(Alternate Weeks) |
Wed
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Aug.3
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Oct.26
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10
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20
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9
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Kensington Community
College
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Kensington
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TBA |
TBA
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TBA
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TBA
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TBA
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TBA
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10
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SpiritWest
Services
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Footscray
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Afternoon
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TBA
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Term 4
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Term 4
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6-10
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6-10
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Please note - Depending on the school, period times may vary slightly, however, as a general rule:
- P 1 – 2 is approx. 8.45am to around 11 am;
- P 3 – 4 is approx. 10.45am to around 1pm;
- P 5 – 6 is approx. 12.45pm to around 3 pm.
# - Please note that the second Braybrook program is likely to expand into an ‘out of hours’ program in the latter half of the year. The school has expressed an interest in having mentors and students work together during school hours – as per usual – and then expanding the relationship to include an extra hour or two at the end of the school day. YMAP mentors on student placement might find this an ideal way to get extra placement hours.
Your continued support and kindness is what makes YMAP the best in-school mentoring program around. Thank you for that.
Please take care and I hope to see you all very soon,
Greg Blake
Youth Worker
Co-ordinator - Youth Mentoring Assisted Pathways Program (YMAP)
Maribyrnong Moonee Valley LLEN
40 Bellair Street , Kensington
P.O. Box 78 Flemington 3031
03 93767251
Mob.0422673847
email -
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