Barriers break

Sireli Rauroro and Emmanuel Ah Wa on the field during the Inter-VCAL Sports Day. 69085Sireli Rauroro and Emmanuel Ah Wa on the field during the Inter-VCAL Sports Day. 69085

By Nicole Williams
IT WAS home runs all around for VCAL students at the third Inter-VCAL Sports Day held by the South East Local Learning and Employment Network (SELLEN).
Students from VCAL programs in Narre Warren, Doveton and Pakenham fought it out in a softball tournament at Sweeney Reserve, Berwick, on Thursday 18 August to walk away with the coveted trophy.
Clorinda Siemienowicz from SELLEN, a Dandenong education and employment organisation, said the students embraced the sports day.
“It was a great day and the kids have said it’s the best so far,” she said.
Ms Siemienowicz said the sports day was fantas-tic because it was some-thing mainstream schools offered, but VCAL programs couldn’t.
“Some kids might have different challenging behaviours,” she said.
“They all just seem to come together as one on this day – it’s a phenomenal thing to watch.”
Auschild Community VCAL, Narre Warren Community Learning centre and the Doveton Local Employment Education Program (LEEP) split into seven teams and the Doveton LEEP students took out the trophy.
Ms Siemienowicz said the day was only successful because of the support of the Casey Softball Association that provided the field, canteen and clubrooms at no charge.
Casey Softball Association’s, ‘Come and Try day is on Saturday 10 September at 11am to 1pm at Sweeney Reserve, Berwick.