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| BROOKS HIGH SCHOOL: BIRRIBI |
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Birribi is an off-campus centre in a converted fire station a few
blocks from the main campus. About 100 students a week spend one 100
minute block in respite, renewal and/or enrichment programs.
Flexibility is the keyword, however, particularly if students are at
risk. One student did his entire 7-10 schooling at Birribi. It is a
vital element that all student attendance at Birribi is voluntary and
that this not be seen as a place only for students 'with problems'.
Birribi's ambience is adolescents-on-the-go. The workshop/activities
area houses a finished student project: a black and white renovated
marshall's car, complete with siren, bullet holes and the Brooks High
insignia. It's registered and transports students around from time to
time. Ancient car and bike bodies await transformation. An old red
phone box is the communications centre; there are lounge chairs
scattered around and a chess set ready on a table. The walls display
bright murals, funny cartoons, posters about help lines, adolescent
websites and services and messages like 'If you think you can or think
you can't, you're right'.
Birribi is staffed by a full-time co-ordinator whose background is
teaching and youth work. A social worker, an assistant principal, a
guidance officer/psychologist and TAs have part-time input.
"Birribi
is not a drop out place. At risk students come here but they are never
publicly identified., although the grade team is highly aware of what's
happening. If a kid comes here in a bit of trouble, he or she gets busy
working on something. We get chatting about anger or whatever the
problem is. We might hop in the car and go and buy some car parts. It's
a captive audience but we're doing something else as well. It can be
easier to talk as we drive along."
- Chris Brooks, Birribi co-ordinator |
All
grade 7 have one 100 minute block per week, for 4 weeks, at Birribi for
personal development work. This year special effort has been made with
the girls. They have been forming into exclusive friendship groups with
a negative effect on grade harmony and cohesion. They do not know that
the membership of their Birribi groups has been chosen by the grade 7
team to cut across these cliques and extend friendships. The
experiential nature of the Birribi enrichment program also helps the
grade 7 team's underlying objective through artwork, discussion and
exercises which explore group dynamics and relationships.
Another group this year comprises 15 Grade 7 boys who have been
referred by the grade 7 team. They are either bullies or timid and
isolated. A special program at Birribi is their carrot to perform
better at school, but it has been individually negotiated with each
boy. They are in fact a discrete group, but are unaware of it.
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