Last week I was fortunate to attend Government House for two of nine Merit ceremonies, to celebrate the academic achievements of our Years 11 and 12 girls who undertook Stage 2 studies in 2021. The Classes of 2021 and 2022 will be remembered for undertaking their final two years of secondary schooling during the global COVID pandemic, yet the resilience, optimism and spirit with which the girls approached their studies has prepared them well to tackle whatever lies ahead of them.

The SACE Merit Ceremony provides an opportunity for the South Australian community to honour the outstanding achievements of those students who achieved in the top one percent of all students in the subject area. Wilderness students achieved 76 merits in 2021 across 17 different subject areas. This is an incredible achievement and one that recognises the commitment and dedication of our students and staff through a time of uncertainty and change. Nikita Page (2021) was also awarded a Governor of South Australia Commendation—Excellence Award. Nikita is an exceptional role model and citizen of our School who is congratulated on this achievement.

The focus of our Middle and Senior School Assembly this week was our school value of Responsible Citizenship. This value centres around developing responsible, respectful and generous global citizens and leaders, who act with integrity for a socially just world and a sustainable future for the Earth. I talked to the girls about the importance of service and giving back to their communities, in particular those less fortunate.

At the Assembly, we welcomed back old scholar Ashleigh Desilva (2018) who is the current Girl Up Global Ambassador. Ashleigh was involved in the setting up of the Girl Up Club at Wilderness and it is fantastic to see her continuing her involvement and supporting UN programs to promote the health, safety, education, and leadership of girls in developing countries. The Term 2 initiative for the Girl Up Club at School will focus on domestic and gender violence prevention in conjunction with Catherine House.

We also discussed the 2022 SONY Camp. The camp aims to provide an enjoyable experience for each camper as well as respite care for their families. The children, who range between 8 to 14 years of age, have varying degrees of developmental challenges, some relatively mild and some more significant. While there are always challenges in running the SONY Camp, there is no doubt that these camps are life changing for the camper, their families and, in particular, the students who are involved in the running of the camp. Girls in Years 10 and 11 are encouraged to apply to be involved with the 2022 Camp.

The next two weeks at school will see a focus on Reconciliation and the Arts. We look forward to welcoming our 2022 Artist in Residence, Mr Hamish Fleming and our Musician in Residence, Mr Adam Page.

Finally, a reminder that Years 11 and 12 girls will undertake their Mid-Year Exams in Weeks 7 and 8 of this term. It is important that girls are planning ahead to ensure that they meet the assessment requirements and are prepared for these important formative exams.

Wilderness Year 11 Mothers Lunch

Dear Year 11 Mums,

You are invited to lunch on the last day of term at the Kentish Hotel in North Adelaide. We would love you to attend. Please see the invite in the image gallery below, and RSVP by email or phone. We look forward to seeing you there.

Naomi Fahey Quick and Rachel Southon
Year 11 Parent Representatives