School op-shop provides opportunities for students and public
Media release, 2 October 2009
Henbury School's newest initiative, an op-shop in the Karama Shopping Centre, hasproven popular with shoppers since opening its doors to the public three weeks ago.
The Opportunity Knocks venture serves as a shop, a classroom and a manufacturing space, all in one.
Henbury senior teacher Tim Wicks said the shop provides opportunities for students as much as it does for the public.
"Students will make products such as bookmarks, hanging baskets and mosaic works, which will be placed for sale in the shop alongside goods donated by the public, such as clothing, crockery, shoes, books, baby-ware and furniture."
Mr Wicks said Henbury School is grateful to the many generous people who have donated 'trailer loads' of items to the shop over the past few weeks.
"The public response to Opportunity Knocks has been overwhelmingly positive since we first opened our doors three weeks ago and daily foot traffic has been encouraging too."
Opportunity Knocks is Henbury's sixth 'outreach classroom' but the first one that is not in a mainstream school.
Outreach classrooms offer students the opportunity to participate in academic activities in 'real life' situations. Students that would usually find it difficult to function in an open employment situation have the opportunity to develop social and work skills in a safe environment.
Henbury School plays an important role in the holistic development of people with special needs by providing students with the skills and knowledge necessary to engage in society.
Opportunity Knocks was officially opened by Deputy Chief Minister Delia Lawrie on 1 October 2009.