It has been a very busy return to school following the Easter Holidays. I hope that you have all enjoyed the opportunity to meet with your daughter’s teachers over the two evenings of Parent Teacher Interviews.

REALISE

The parents of Core Group 1 travelled to Crawford on Maundy Thursday to collect their daughters after a very successful three-week experience. The parents enjoyed lunch and a showcase prepared by the girls to summarise their time at REALISE. The girls will have a first aid course and a day of rock-climbing next week to complete their experience.

Core Group 2 left early on the Sunday morning before school returned for the term. I look forward to hearing all about their time at Crawford when I join them overnight next week.

We hope you enjoy this short reflection by Year 9 student, Niya Singhal, who attended REALISE with Core Group 1.

REALISE was an amazing experience for all of us. It allowed us to try things we had never done before and gain valuable experiences.

We bonded a lot as a Core Group; I talked to people I normally wouldn’t and thus learned a whole heap of new things.

Sustainability was a huge focus, and therefore I learned about the correct way to dispose of rubbish and the idea that ‘Your Dollar is Your Vote’.

While shopping, we chose an ethical issue to support. For example, in the second week, we only bought Australian-made groceries.

REALISE was eye opening for me, in that I had no idea how much work you have to do to keep a household functioning. Cooking, cleaning, shopping, menu planning, doing the laundry and making sure everyone’s happy is exhausting. I was tired after doing only three weeks of it, so I have no idea how my parents manage. On the other hand, I think most people’s favourite moments were when we were in our cabins having fun and experimenting in the kitchen.

Like I said before, I bonded a lot with the people in my cabin, and we have so many inside jokes and memories. But being with the same people for three weeks taught me so much about compromising and empathy. We wouldn’t always agree on things, and we had to find a middle ground in order to continue to function happily as a cabin.

During REALISE, I also learned to live life in the moment, and not worry about what’s happening at home or what’s happening the next day. During chillout, I had time to reflect, which allowed me to be present for the activities we did. Overall, REALISE has been an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it was an amazing three weeks.

Traffic Monitor Training

All students in Years 6 to 10 participated in training last week that enables them to be traffic monitors at our school crossings. Each year, trainers from SAPOL deliver this training in the gym. The training had to be delayed initially because of COVID restrictions. Due to the ongoing restrictions around student assemblies, the training was delivered online for older students, while the Year 6 girls were in the gym. Students will soon receive their certificate from SAPOL and will continue to help students arrive and leave school safely each day.

NAPLAN

This week, Year 7 and 9 girls have undergone four days of NAPLAN testing. For the second year, Wilderness students have completed the tests online. If your daughter has missed any of the testing, there will be make-up sessions next week. Results will be distributed later in the year.