Holroyd High School and Holroyd Intensive English Centre

　　Holroyd High School is a comprehensive, co-educational secondary school, which focuses on high quality learning in a safe, well-disciplined and supportive environment. Holroyd High offers a broad, flexible, innovative curriculum and a range of post-compulsory pathways to meet student abilities and needs.The school has high retention rates, and above State average value-added results in NAPLAN tests, School Certificate and HSC.Forty-nine percent of 2009 HSC students received university offers in 2010.

　　Holroyd High has an Intensive English Centre for newly arrived students of non-English speaking background, and is 85% NESB in Years 7-12. The school values and celebrates the cultural and linguistic diversity of all its students.It is a harmonious and cheerful school:fundamental to its positive ethos are the concepts of trust, acceptance, respect and responsibility.The school encourages students to have high expectations for themselves and actively fosters student leadership and engagement. The school has a culture of openness, collaboration and participation.

　　GOALS is a one-on-one mentoring partnership that aims to widen the life choices of students considered to be at risk of disengaging from school and those students who would benefit from mentoring support. Whether it is the environment, circumstances or resulting attitudes that discourage the student from completing school, the mentoring program seeks to engage and encourage them to achieve a productive working and personal life.

　　The program broadens the experiences and understanding of students and mentors alike, and offers opportunities to meet a more extensive group of students and business people. The program endeavours to be mutually beneficial to students and mentors.

　　What is involved

　　A volunteer from a member company is matched with a high school student. Students are carefully chosen to ensure that those most likely to benefit are involved in the program. When matching mentors with students, the school and the ABCN consider compatibility of interests, goals, skills and experiences.

　　Mentoring sessions run for 90 minutes. The first meeting is held at the school, with subsequent meetings at a range of corporate venues.

　　Each mentoring session includes:

　　Individual discussions between mentor and student

　　Joint activities with other GOALS participants

　　Group discussions e.g. goal setting, building rapport

　　Presenting student's work or findings.

　　The student and mentor always meet in a group context and are accompanied by two teachers from the school, to ensure complete compliance with the Child Protection Act.

　　Benefits for students

　　'This is the best thing that has ever happened to me.' Student

　　Self esteem and self confidence increased.

　　Horizons and experiences expanded

　　Motivation to learn improved

　　Achievements and aspirations raised

　　Personal and social skills improved.

　　Benefits for mentors

　　'My student rekindled my understanding that it doesn't matter what life stage you're at it's never too late to change things or make things happen.' Mentor

　　Awareness and interest in the broader community increased

　　Skills and job satisfaction improved.

　　How to be involved at Holroyd High School

　　Year 9 students have the opportunity to apply for this program in Term 1.  After submitting their application, students will then undertake an interview with the GOALS co-ordinator, Mrs Beynon and the Deputy Principal, Mrs Carrick.  If students are successful, a permission note will be sent home and the program will commence in June.

　　On the days that the GOALS program runs, students travel by train into the Sydney CBD.  In the morning, students participate in an excursion eg. Wildlife World, Sydney Aquarium.  After the excursion, the students go to a company head quarters and meet with their mentors.  During the session, they are provided with lunch and work through a series of activities based on different skills needed in the workplace.