By Tricia Mifsud
RETURNING to face-to-face learning this year will undoubtedly cause a mix of emotions in students, but services including Wallan’s Homework Club are ensuring there is support for those needing it.
The homework club is open to all year seven to 12 students and provides space for students to work on any subject’s homework with the support of the club’s staff.
Homework club coordinator Makayla Walles said the weekly session provided some structure to students’ schedules as they returned to full-time learning on school campus.
“Homework club can provide a break from the home environment which often isn’t ideal for effective learning,” she said.
“This year is bound to be different to the previous two years and it can be challenging to navigate that alone and homework club gives students one-and-a-half hours on a Wednesday night … to focus solely on their homework with minimal distractions.
“Having that routine and structure to complete homework can make a huge difference to academic success at school.”
Ms Walles said the Wallan Youth Room provided an environment that could cater to all students’ needs, creating a space for both individual and collaborative work.
“We have the space to cater to a variety of different study styles as the Wallan Youth Room is very versatile. There may be some students sitting at the tables working on their individual homework while others are sitting on the couches brainstorming for a group presentation,” she said.
“There are endless options and all we ask is that you are respectful of other people using the space.
“It is also the perfect place to learn from peers. Older students often help younger students with homework.”
Along with the homework club, Ms Walles said there were other support services in Mitchell Shire that students could look into to support their learning.
She said the options provided a social setting – something students had lacked during the pandemic.
“One of the biggest challenges facing students returning to school is the lack of opportunity they’ve had to socialise during the past two years,” she said.
“If you or your child need some assistance with returning to school, there are many private tutoring services available to assist with academics. The local library is a good place to start when looking for local events and services.
“Mitchell Youth Services also run a drop-in at the youth room which is perfect for making new friends and meeting other people who go to your school or live in your area.
“There are several youth groups in the area that can also provide opportunities for new friendships and socialisation, such as the one run by Wallan Gateway Church.”
Homework Club is each Wednesday from 3.30pm to 5pm at the Wallan Youth Room, at 42 Bentick Street.
To register or to find out more about the club, email homeworkclub@compassionnorth.org.
