Two after-school sports programs are helping to keep students on the ball and out of trouble.
Tarneit Senior College has joined forces with Melbourne City and Melbourne Storm to offer afternoon soccer and rugby programs respectively, attracting up to 40 students across all year levels on any given week.
Assistant principal Suzie Gerada said the school introduced the sporting programs at the beginning of the school year because a lot of students couldn’t afford to be part of sporting clubs, which can incur high registration, uniform and equipment fees. In comparison, the soccer and rugby programs are fully funded through the school.
Each program includes a range of training drills, followed by a mini-game. The students will go on to represent Tarneit Senior College at inter-school sports competitions.
Ms Gerada said while the programs were open to all Tarneit Senior College students, the soccer program was particularly popular among its African students, while students from the Islander community had gravitated towards the rugby program.
She said the programs were getting students involved in something positive in the community outside of school hours.
“It’s great – the boys love it.”
Ms Gerada is hoping the programs grow once a long-awaited school expansion – which will include a sporting precinct with a new gym and basketball stadium – is complete later this year.
