To assist a number of students who are showing real promise in areas outside of the school curriculum, Faith Lutheran College, Redlands in Brisbane has introduced a new flexible learning program that means these talented students no longer have to choose between a quality education and a career in their chosen field.
Noticing a real need to make school hours more flexible and thereby more achievable for students that have a career interest outside of the classroom, Director of Teaching and Learning at Faith Lutheran College, Redlands, David King believes this new program is the key to continuing to meet the educational needs of every student.
“We want students who discover a real talent or passion for something outside the curriculum to still see the value in completing high school as well as having the opportunity to,” he said.
”Not only are we seeing this program make a difference to our students in reaching their goals outside school, but it also allows them to perform better academically, therefore keeping their options open for the future,” Mr King added.
Already the program has resulted in industry accolades for Faith Lutheran, Redlands' dance students, who just last year were recognised by The Australian Ballet as one of the top five school ballet groups in the nation.
Year 11 student Briony West is one of the first students benefiting from the new program, with her mother Heather West so determined to give her daughter this unique educational opportunity that she has moved half her family across the state.
“While we really wanted to give Briony the chance to excel in her dancing, we did not want this to be at the detriment of her education or childhood,” Mrs West said.
Faith Lutheran Redlands is the first school we have found that can effectively cater to the needs of Briony, giving her the opportunity to grow up as a normal teenager, whilst still spending the necessary hours every day developing her skills as a dancer.
“It has been a huge commitment as a family,” Mrs West admits, “but it is has been worth it to see Briony excel in her studies and make close friends at school, all the while reaching new heights as a dancer.”
To further assist aspiring ballerinas like Briony to make it to the top, FLCR has teamed up with professional dance academy, Strictly Dance, offering students the unique opportunity to work their school education around their rigorous dance regime.
Principal of Strictly Dance, Debbie-Lyn Davidson is a great ambassador of the school’s program, acknowledging its importance in developing the skills of young dancers and winning reputable industry awards such as the finalist position FLCR achieved in Telstra’s national Opening Act Competition last year.
“Faith Lutheran College, Rendland is the first school we have partnered with as we felt they were willing to go above and beyond to make the program work for their students” Ms Davidson said.
The fact that The Australian Ballet considers these students to be part of the top five dancing groups in the nation is a major coup,” Ms Davidson identified, “and is testament to the FLCR’s ongoing dedication to help these dancers become the best they can be.”
Drawing on her vast experience in the industry, Ms Davidson believes this program will put Faith Lutheran College, Redlands in the prime position to attract more dance students, recognising that continuing to train at a high school age can be the difference between a good dancer and a real ballerina.
“With the competition so high and dancer’s bodies and ability at their best when they are young, it is really crucial to their future career that they continue to train during these years,” she points out.
“I expect there will be a lot more parents like Briony’s that will be prepared to make the move to Faith Lutheran College, Redlands so they can offer their children the best education and future in dance.”
Award winning swimming champion Justin Turnball is another testament to Faith Lutheran College, Redlands' new program. The first student to graduate last year using Faith Lutheran College, Redlands' new program, he split his final years over two so he could continue to train over nine times a week in the pool.
Whilst it was difficult not being able to graduate with his class of friends in 2010, Justin believes it has been worth it, bringing him closer to his dreams of qualifying for the Olympic Games and following in the footsteps of his swimming role model Grant Hackett.
“While it has been non-stop for me over the last couple of years, it now feels like it is really going to pay off,” Justin acknowledges.
“I am in a very good position to compete internationally and have graduated high school – two accomplishments that would definitely not have been possible without the support of my school.”
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