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Ellie finds VCAL the perfect fit

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Leonie and Ellie Simpson

Now entering her final term of her final year of school, Ellie Simpson’s education has come full circle.

A student who struggled in her middle years – including needing to repeat Year 8 – Ellie will soon be joining Greater Shepparton Secondary School teachers as a classroom assistant in her last months of Year 12.

“She has done a huge amount of high-quality work on her own and we’ve run out of assignments for her to do!” McGuire campus teacher Katrina Essex said.

“This will give her a head-start on her future studies.”

Ellie is completing the challenging Senior Level of the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL). From next year, she plans to earn her Certificate IV in Education Support at GOTAFE.

“The teachers messaged me and asked if I wanted to work with them next term in helping to tutor Year 7 students who are having some difficulty in class,” she said.

“This is what I eventually want to do in primary schools so it will be great experience for me.”

Ellie will certainly be able to bring empathy and understanding in helping younger students who are struggling – she’s been there herself.

Mum Leonie said Ellie had Selective Mutism, a childhood anxiety that manifests in certain social settings. Sufferers typically communicate fine in comfortable and secure surroundings but can struggle in other circumstances, like at school.

“Ellie would go to school and just want to stay out of sight,” Leonie said. “She wouldn’t ask questions and would really stress about who she might have lunch with or where she might be sitting in class, rather than learning.”

The stresses of school saw Ellie go from Mooroopna Secondary College to Shepparton Christian College and back to Mooroopna, which further disrupted her education and made forging friendships difficult.

Leonie said Ellie’s second stint at Mooroopna was better, with sister Jessica attending the same school and improved support and understanding of staff.

However it was the formation of Greater Shepparton Secondary College, resulting in Ellie’s transfer to McGuire Campus this year, that saw her blossom into a high achiever and VCAL award winner.

“The teachers have been really encouraging and a great support,” Leonie said.

Unlike many of her classmates, Ellie said she also enjoyed the freedom and flexibility of remote learning in her final year. She is now looking forward to putting some Year 7 activities she had developed as part of her studies into action next term.

Ms Essex, Year 12 VCAL literacy teacher, said Ellie’s pathway to Senior VCAL studies had been a little different and more difficult than most students.

“But it’s a perfect fit,” she said. “Ellie is so talented and we’re looking forward to her working with our less confident Year 7s.”

Ellie plans to earn her Certificate IV in Education Support at Shepparton TAFE next year, where she can help out with the family business on weekends.

Leonie and husband Rowan operate It’s Party Time Jumping Castles with Ellie, Jessica and youngest daughter Rachael all lending a hand. They are hopeful the easing of Coronavirus restrictions will make for a busy summer ahead.