Melbourne masks: Melba College Croydon VCAL students make face masks for community members
With face masks compulsory in Melbourne from Thursday, students at an outer east high school have swapped textbooks for a sewing spree to help their mates cover up.
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High school students in Melbourne’s outer east have rearranged their studies to embark on a mask-making mission to help those in need.
VCAL students at Croydon’s Melba College are making face masks for desperate classmates and families before the new rule kicks in on Thursday.
Principal Aaron Sykes said the students planned to make the masks later in the term but the activity was brought forward following the government’s announcement on the weekend.
He estimated more than 200 masks would be made and handed out to members of the school community struggling to find them.
Mr Sykes said the project was a great opportunity for hands-on learning and for students to use their personal development and numeracy skills.
“It was about being purposeful and directful, and what a time and opportunity to use the skills they are learning in a real world context,” he said.
“It’s great fun and an engaging way to refocus our student efforts for the term on site.”
Student Ryan Timson-Farrell said the mask-making sessions were practical and linked in with other skills he learnt earlier in the year.
“Making the masks is useful at the moment because of coronavirus, but the skills learnt can be transferred to other tasks like fixing rips in clothing,” he said.
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