Swearing off the dole

By Bridget Cook
LYNDHURST Secondary College students have made a pledge to continue education or enter into employment next year.
Most Year 10 students took part in the school’s Smart Futures Program – a Beacon Foundation ‘No Dole’ initiative which aims to place every 2011 Year 10 student in further education, an apprenticeship, traineeship or full-time employment by March 31, 2012.
Students signed the pledge at a special ceremony organised by the nine student Beacon ambassadors. Ambassador Nathan Collister was the master of cermonies for the event and introduced each student and their plans for the future, before they came up to sign the pledge.
Students Krysta Davis and Jayden Lynch-Cooper gave a joint musical performance at the ceremony.
Program co-ordinator and former Lyndhurst Secondary College student Brodie Andersen said the program was great for students.
“I think it encourages students to think about the future and the choices they need to make,” she said.
“The theme of the program was ‘today’s impact, tomorrow’s future’.
“It reflects how students can make positive and effective choices now to better influence both themselves and their future.”
Ms Andersen said she was proud of the work done by the ambassadors and all those involved.
“The ambassadors were really active in planning and preparing for the ceremony,” she said.
“They came up with the theme, created questions and distributed the student survey and approached various community groups for items for the gift bags, which were handed out on the day.”