From little things, big things grow. Just ask the staff and students at Our Lady of La Vang in Flinders Park.
The school, which offers specialist education for students from Reception to Year 13 living with intellectual disability, has partnered with Woolworths and Fujitsu to launch its own Mini Woolies, La Vang Fresh Foods – an in-house miniature supermarket that teaches students the skills needed to engage with the local community and outside world.
Tasks include operating the fully functional cash registers, stocking shelves, serving customers, ordering produce and more.
“The focus is not on their disability but their ability,” principal Stephanie Grant says.
“We have linked it to the curriculum and so our students are learning literacy and numeracy skills as well as communication, teamwork, interpersonal skills and independence skills.”
Since it opened in May this year, La Vang Fresh Foods has shown remarkable results.
“We have seen a massive growth in their confidence – you can see their beaming smiles,” Ms Grant says.
“It’s amazing to watch the children being initially unsure to super confident and able to serve customers (other students).”
And it’s not just those at the school witnessing the wonderful transformation. Parents are also celebrating the positive changes in their children.
“Some of our students can get overwhelmed in large groups of people,” Ms Grant says.
“When we opened the shop, it was very busy and one mum was so delighted that her daughter overcame her discomfort and took her shopping. It’s been lovely to see our students really blossom but also how thrilled their parents are to see them in a different light – to realise what they can do.”
Ms Grant is optimistic that many of her students will succeed in transitioning their achievements into post-school pathways.
“Our hope is that some of our students may be able to get a traineeship or be supported in employment,” she says.
“We’re very keen to see what they might be able to do into the future.
“Catholic Education has a focus on connecting young people to the world in which they belong. We want our young people to be thriving, confident and to engage in a world they’re going to be part of. For us, it’s about how we make it possible.”
Pictured above: Our Lady of La Vang school students Riley and Dylan work the cash registers at the school’s mini Woolies while Rose and Georgia shop for produce.
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