Putting learning into practice at Berry Street School boosts student confidence

Year 11 and 12 VCAL students ran a pop-up stall at the front of the school in Sebastopol on Thursday selling jams and relishes.

Running the stall was part of their assessment to complete a training course in retail and hospitality skills.

The students told The Courier they were proud of their efforts which saw them sell out of their stock of 110 jars of produce and raise $440 only one hour and a half after opening.

"I didn't think we would sell out that quickly. We sold out in the first hour and a half. I didn't think we were going to get any customers," Year 12 student Kiara Agnew said.

Year 12 student Paige Leontic said students' families, teachers and the school's neighbours visited the stall to purchase the items.

Year 11 student Rachael Tilders said many customers asked if they had plans to hold a stall again.

The school's 12 VCAL students participated in a four day Training Youth For Work program led by genU Training in the lead up to shop day.

Berry Street School assistant principal Damian McKee said student attendance and engagement was high during that time.

"The students have loved it, because it is so practical and is life experience for them," he said.

"It is preparing them for a work life, which is really important."

Kiara said all students had a go at every task, including operating the eftpos machine and talking to customers.

Paige said they learnt how to associate with other people and manage working with different customer actions and personalities.

Berry Street School Ballarat lead teacher Meredith Barclay said the skills learnt in the program, including teamwork and problem solving, were valuable stepping stones to future training and work.

She said the experience also gave many students a newfound confidence and energy.

"I was so proud of them. They really came out of their shells," she said.

"Some of the students who have been closed up and introverted, by learning new skills and coming face to face with customers, I felt they were really enlivened.

"I could see it give some of our students a glimpse of what is possible for them.

"I have just had one student say she would do her resume and previously that was a major challenge. She can now see she has actually got real skills and increased self confidence."

Year 11 student Amelia Smith said she felt proud and happy about her achievements.

"Usually I am pretty scared to talk to people but I was pretty proud I was confident and happy and comfortable in the environment managing the till and talking to customers," she said.

"This has helped me a lot. Retail has always been very intimidating to me. This has made me a lot more comfortable.

"I will be able to use these skills outside of school. I would love to get a job in retail in the future to get me started."

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Ms Barclay said another positive outcome of the project was to engage the broader community in the students' learning.

"It is a loyal community here. They support us and it is good for them to see us doing positive, real life, practical projects," she said.

"The student community interaction is really positive."

RELATED COVERAGE: The Ballarat school working to get disengaged students back into the classroom

genU Training sessional trainer Anna-Lee Newell said her experience running the course at Berry Street School had been 'one of the best'.

"From the first day to today it is like I have got different students in there which is the ultimate goal, from quite shy and unsure to out there chatting to customers without me needing to prompt it," she said.

"They have a lot more confidence which I believe they can take to the next job out there."

The jams and relishes sold at the pop-up shop were made by genU's disability support and employment not for profit Otway Kitchen.

All funds raised will be donated back to Otway Kitchen to support people with a disability in employment.

Ballarat is one of Berry Street's four secondary school campuses that adopts a trauma-informed approach to education.

The 43 students at Ballarat's Berry Street School may have experienced significant gaps in their learning due to trauma, disability or difficulty in the mainstream education system.

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