Carey Baptist Grammar School’s CRASH program is just one of the ways the school encourages student engagement and fosters a sense of community and agency.
One of the many programs on offer to Middle School students at Carey Baptist Grammar School is the CRASH program.
CRASH, which stands for ‘Carey Recreation and Social Hubs’ is a voluntary program at Carey Baptist Grammar School that offers an eclectic variety of activities and clubs designed to provide students with a chance to explore their interests and promote the school values of care, respect, and growth.
From Ethics Olympiad to the popular Anime Club, Lego Club and the Art and Design club, students are sure to find something that interests them.
Running since 2020, CRASH is held during lunchtime and supervised by dedicated teachers who are passionate about the subjects they teach and the activities they lead. These teachers happily volunteer their time and work to provide a safe and inclusive space where students can express themselves, learn new skills and build relationships with their peers.
“CRASH wouldn’t exist without our teacher volunteers” says Ms Penny Rickard, CRASH Program Creator and Student Guidance Co- ordinator. “CRASH came about when we were trying to find creative ways to continue supporting students while addressing the challenges around lack of space brought about during the construction of our new Middle School.”
Students who attend CRASH clubs learn to take responsibility for their actions, show empathy towards others, and develop a sense of social responsibility.
Through the guidance and support of the teachers, students can develop their talents, passions and skills, build confidence and feel a sense of accomplishment.
Ms Rickard says the real purpose of CRASH is to “enable relationships and connections amongst students” and the supportive, comfortable spaces where clubs are held means students feel comfortable interacting with one another.
While there are teacher supervisors, students are “encouraged to run the club and take responsibility for setting and packing up, and sourcing required resources,” said Ms Rickard.
Students often have their own ideas for new CRASH clubs, based on what they are interested in and would like to learn. For example, Tech Tinkers is a new club and was requested by students interested in investigating and repurposing technology. A Robotics club and STEM and coding club are also in development.
Within each club students are encouraged to listen to each other’s perspectives, share their own ideas and opinions, and work together towards a common goal, and in doing so, they learn to respect each other’s differences, develop tolerance and empathy, and become better communicators.
“The development of social and interpersonal skills means students are building meaningful connections and relationships with each other and their teachers and this is really important in Middle School years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Ms Rickard.
The CRASH program has evolved into a ground-breaking example of a school program that empowers student agency, encourages harmonious student-teacher interaction and provides an excellent platform for students to develop new skills.
“The CRASH program is a true example of our values in action, and we are proud of the role it plays in enriching student life at Carey,” concludes Mr Harry Dendle, Deputy Head of Middle School – Student Wellbeing.
For more information, visit: www.carey.com.au
