Alumni Mentoring
Several of the school's Alumni, from the Class of 1969, began the journey in 2010 to create a mentoring program that would help them to "give something back to the school" which had taught them so much and helped to forge their life-long friendship.
Under the umbrella of Alumni Mentoring, this first effort was entitled Sea Explorers, which conducted it's 'First Voyage' in 2011.
The mentoring team consists of members of the Class of 1969: Steve Godden, Steve Alfrich, Ian Dorrington, Frank van der Worm and George Papadopolous. Having established a great friendship during their time as students at Mount Lawley, and having embarked on a number of successful careers and businesses, the the group decided that they wanted to contribute something back to the school.
After negotiations with the school during 2010, the team ran their first Sea Explorers Program, working with Andrew Paul, our School Chaplain - "The success of the program last year, and the enthusiasm of the Mentors meant that we were very keen to get it underway again".
The program runs on Fridays, with the boys spending the day with the Mentor team. They undertake a series of activities themed around the ocean, including fishing, sailing, power boating (the boys all obtained their Recreational Skippers Ticket), snorkelling, cooking seafood, visits to the Maritime Museum and AQWA and a camp at Rottnest.
Of perhaps the greatest value, however, was the opportunity the boys had to work with the Mentor Team. Their genuine friendship, their attitude to work and responsibility and their attention to details such as eye contact and a good handshake all went together to form a very special opportunity for the 7 boys in the initial voyage of the Sea Explorers.
The Sea Explorers Mentors have this year been joined by representatives of the Class of 1968, Kevin McCarthy and John Eaton, who are hoping to set up a similar mentoring program, albeit with a different (most probably land-based) theme. The school hopes to get a trial of this new program in 2013.
Alumni Mentoring, as it has become known, provides the school with a wealth of experience and resourcing that only our Alumni can provide. Their generousity of time and their financial commitment to the program (all of the expenses are met by the Mentoring Team) has provided a wonderful resource and is achieving the essence of the Lawley Alumn motto:
Remembering the Past - Advancing the Future
The second voyage of the Sea Explorers Program has just launched for 2012, with a new group of students.
Sea Explorers (First Voyage 2011)
The five Mentors from the Class of 1969 worked with a group of Year 10 and 11 boys each Friday in a program themed around the ocean.
Sea Explorers (Second Voyage 2012)
The five Mentors from the Class of 1969, now joined with two members of the Class of 1968, work with a group of Year 10 and 11 boys each Friday in a program themed around the ocean.
Sea Explorers (Third Voyage 2013)
Our seven Mentors from the Class of 1968 and 1969 continue to work with a group of Year 10 and 11 boys each Friday in a program themed around the ocean. Significantly, funding became available through the Variety Club to assist with the program.
Sea Explorers (Fourth Voyage 2014)
Our seven Mentors from the Class of 1968 and 1969 continue to work with a group of Year 10 and 11 boys each Friday in a program themed around the ocean.
Potential Projects
Girls Program
Our School Chaplain is exploring (excuse the pun) the possibility of a program aimed at our high achieving girls. We are looking for successful business women, who are past alumni of the school who may be interested in working with this program. The model will be more one-on-one than the Sea Explorers.
Avon Explorers
The project is looking to expand, with members of the group from the Class of 1968 leading a program based around the Avon Valley.