Farmer foundation students kick goals

Hedland Senior High School students have their sights set on success as they flourish in the after-school program run by the Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation.

Students in the foundation’s Follow the Dream: Partnerships for Success program, which provides one-on-one mentoring and career pathway planning, are recording an average of 95 per cent attendance rates — 7 per cent higher than the State’s average for 2016. Program co-ordinator Tanya Turner said the program was a big commitment for the students, and this year more were stepping up to the plate.

“These kids do eight hours more school than other kids; they also commit to do school things on their holidays and when they go on camps, we work them hard,” she said. “Our kids are here almost every day and they are also participating in other extra curricular activities, so it’s really quite uplifting for me as a teacher to see so many kids so committed.”

The aspirational program for Aboriginal students has been running in various forms at the high school for more than 10 years and has seen more than 50 students sign up each year.

Year 11 student Zoeigh Box-Smith said she initially joined to gain help with school but had formed everlasting friendships along the way.

“It’s just a good opportunity if you’re in senior school to get introduced to universities and stuff and experience what that life would be like,” she said.