Students, from left, Saemah, Kristy Lee, Lachlan, Shelly-Anne, Jacob, Bianca and Rachael pledge to stay off the dole. By Bridget Cook
STUDENTS at Lyndhurst Secondary College have made a pledge to stay off the dole.
This month Year 10 students took part in the school’s eighth annual Beacon Pledge Ceremony, which is part of the Beacon Foundation’s No Dole initiative.
At a formal ceremony on Wednesday 1 August all Year 10 students signed a banner pledging they would be in further education, an apprenticeship, traineeship or full time employment by 31 March next year.
Year 9 students, teachers, the principal, Beacon personnel, parents and representatives from many local business and community groups witnessed the ceremony.
During the ceremony each student was introduced to the audience and their goals and ambitions for the future were read about before they singed the banner.
Lyndhurst Secondary College’s student careers and pathways adviser Sue Pulford said the college hoped its young people had the opportunity to enjoy the best possible future rather than go from school to unemployment.
“Making the pledge is a public statement, a public commitment that each student will consider all available options when moving from school,” she said.
“Hosting the event in the aftermath of the Year 10 work experience and in the lead up to the 2013 course counselling process enables students to recognise that ongoing education is vital in terms of opening up the broadest range of post-school options.”
The ceremony was mostly organised by the team of Beacon Student Leaders who accepted the ambassador role and undertook to plan the event.
Each student who made their pledge was presented with a slice of the ceremonial cake as well as a certificate as a reminder of their commitment.
