York Public School is a medium sized Public School in Greater Western Sydney catering to 560 students in the South Penrith community. South Penrith ranks high against a number of social disadvantage indicators, including youth crime and unemployment. Despite this, the school and wider community is dedicated to providing a diverse array of opportunities for students.
Creating Chances worked in the region for many years with Jamison High School, of whom York PS shares a school Oval.
The leadership team of York Public school were interested in organising a way to help Year 6 students who would be transitioning to High School shortly, who he saw were struggling with resilience, confidence, and recognising their strengths and how to use them effectively.
One of those students was Eli. He never really spoke out and was quite shy, often struggling to make friends and have meaningful relationships in the classroom.
Head Facilitator Paul met with the school and discussed how the Springboard programs would aim to equip York students with the skills and strategies needed to prepare for, and overcome, the social and academic challenges in Year 6, as they move towards their transition to high school. For many that would be Jamison High School.
Through fun and engaging workshops and sport, students would develop their sense of self, and learn how to form and identify positive relationships. As the cohort loved Sport, Paul decided to lean into on-field activities, where conflict and challenges would naturally emerge and could be managed in a constructive way.
The Program included sessions Tailored to Year 6 students. Facilitators designed the session specifically for students aged 10-12, with age-specific activities and discussion points.
The inclusion of Indoor workshops centred around values and self awareness, underpinned by reflective discussion. Outdoor games are additionally a key aspect of the program with team and individual sport games using Creating Chances’ Fair Play principles that were tracked and celebrated across the program.
Under the guidance of our facilitators, Eli was able to talk to other students more, and engaged in the activities, even taking a lead to explain one of the games. Paul worked closely with him to understand the areas he could work on to be more friendly and curious, and he was able to practice in the safe spaces the facilitators established.
“[Before the program] I never really shared anything about myself, I was just quiet and wasn’t saying anything really. [Now I feel] more open to share things and have an opinion, and in class when we do sport I just feel more part of a team.” – Student, Eli
“By the end of the program, this participant was more engaged in classroom activities, his confidence to answer questions and voice his opinions during group discussions grew dramatically.” – Head Facilitator, Paul
“Creating Chances has been really awesome for my class and students at my school. It’s helped them to become more resilient, helped them moving into high school and create connections with each other. It has also made it easier for them to communicate with new people that they’re meeting. I think the students have shown that they are a little bit more outgoing, they are better in the playground, they get along with other kids and they’re more willing to give things a go.” -York Primary School Teacher
Eli went in Year 7 the following year at Jamison High School with a growth mindset and clear communication skills and is looking forward to participating in the programs we run at Jamison High School.
Having delivered programs at York Public School, Jamison High School and the wider Penrith Education Alliance, Principals have noticed the pathway’s impact amongst students at their school.
There’s good vibes with Creating Chances programs. Across all Creating Chances programs students show greater resilience, and more confidence when it comes to seeking meaningful employment.
At Creating Chances, we connect ideas, inspire growth, and empower young people to build confidence, resilience, and optimism for a brighter future.
