THE graduation of six boys from The Canobolas Rural Technology High School who were members of its Clontarf Foundation means the program is ticking boxes on the Orange school's campus.
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Canobolas High's Clontarf Academy director Traye Hodge was delighted the six finished their schooling through the program considering eight boys originally starting their senior years.
The Clontarf Foundation is a nation-wide program designed to keep young aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boys in school.
It uses supportive relationships, a welcoming environment and activities to develop self-esteem and confidence which helps the boys participate in education and society.
The approach has proven successful, not only in attracting boys to school and keeping them there, but also in having them embrace more disciplined, purposeful and healthy lifestyles.
Clontarf at Canobolas High has 138 boys in its program with Mr Hodge saying the senior boys played an important role in mentoring the younger ones.
"The older boys understand the younger ones," he said explaining they could often provide a leadership role. He added the new cohort of year 10, 11 and 12 boys showed leadership potential within the group.
Mr Hodge, was one of three Clontarf representatives on hand yesterday to thank the Orange Ex-Services Club for a $6000 donation towards the Canobolas High program. Joining him were partnership manager James Grant and Canobolas' High school captain Max Wilson, who is one of the program's success stories.
Mr Hodge said the money would be spent locally.
"Because it's a locally-based partnership that money gets funnel back into us," he said.
"It will go towards a bunch of different things. A lot of the boys come to school without breakfast and lunch so we'll spend some of it on food."
He also said some would go towards camps which were used as an incentive to keep the boys coming to school each days. The money was donated by the Ex-Services Club as part of its ClubGrants funding.
"The Orange Ex-Services' Club board and ClubGrants committee were proud to provide this support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in education in Orange," Ex-Services' interim CEO Graham Gentles said.
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