I hope you were able to spend some time as a family relaxing and recovering over the recent mid-year break.

As we returned to school last week, the Year 12s entered the ‘premiership quarter’ and have a busy term ahead. It is important that they look after themselves by eating well, ensuring they get 8 – 9 hours of sleep each night and keeping physically active. This term will pass quickly so all girls need to start the way they want to finish. After all, they only have 50 days of classes left!

This week we have begun the subject counselling process for 2023. Girls in Years 10 and 11 have met with key staff to hear about the subjects available for them to undertake next year. As your daughter completes her final year(s) at Wilderness, it is important that she considers the subjects she enjoys and any prerequisites for her future studies at university.

What I know is that the world of work has changed exponentially over the last few years. There are so many new opportunities for young women to pursue their interests and talents. My experience as Head of Senior School highlights that the most successful SACE subject patterns are where young people follow their passions, interests and strengths.

At Wilderness, girls in Year 11 and 12 have access to a broad range of choices to make sure that the pathways they pursue are flexible and open to change. Young people will change their minds, but at the same time, we want all girls to achieve the highest level of academic success possible.

Their final ATAR is their opportunity to have choice—that is its purpose. We want to ensure that through their ATAR, every girl has access to the broadest range of university entry choices and other opportunities after they leave school.

This year, all girls in Year 11 and 12 will have the opportunity to meet with a wide range of teachers who are SACE subject specialists to assist them with their subject choices. Parents of Year 11 girls are encouraged to book a time to meet with staff on Thursday 11 August with their daughter to discuss their subjects as sent by email earlier this week. Naturally, both Mrs Caroline Palmer (Careers Counsellor) and I will always be available should you wish to meet with us to discuss subject selection more deeply.

What I would encourage all girls and their parents to do is to think outside the square and to understand that what we are doing is ‘educating girls for their future and not our past’ as the world of work is changing. As parents, we must be open to the fact that girls need to choose a broader range of subjects to ensure that they are prepared to do their best and to be successful in their personal and professional lives.

Finally, some key dates for all Senior School girls and parents to remember for next week are as follows:

• Tuesday 9 August – Interhouse Swimming Carnival (SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre)
• Wednesday 10 August – Photograph Day (Year Group, House, Boarding and Club/Committee Photos) The uniform requirements will be full winter uniform with blazer and blue hair ribbon.

Frahns Farm Tree Planting

Year 10 Student, Grace Munro, recently worked with Frahns Farm Tree Planting and has shared her experience below:

I signed up for the Bio-R Frahns Farm Tree Planting for my Silver Duke of Ed service component and loved participating in the development of new habitats. Bio-R are a grassroots charity that reconstruct habitats to support native wildlife. As a community, we helped to reconstruct sufficient habitat at large scales that will meet the needs of wildlife, while also arresting their declines at this large scale.

It was a wonderful experience for the community to come together and support a great cause. The girls and I loved planting the different species of grasses, herbs and shrubs, as well as trees. We planted them in a way that would diversify the area for multiple species to inhabit, therefore boosting the ecosystem. Although the weather wasn't pleasing, the day definitely was.

Gold Duke of Edinburgh Students' Jatbula Trip

Two of our Gold Duke of Edinburgh students Millie Gosse and Lucy Mildwaters (Year 11) have shared their recent hiking experience in the Northern Territory.

During the school holidays, the Gold Duke of Edinburgh students embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the Northern Territory (NT): hiking the Jatbula trail, the 62km journey from Nitmiluk Gorge to Edith (Leylin) Falls.

At the time, we did not know that this would be a life-changing experience for us all, in which we strengthened and developed new relationships with our peers and immersed ourselves in the environment we were so lucky to encounter.

The experience was full of remarkable landscapes, beautiful flora and fauna, history and culture. Some of the highlights were visiting the Amphitheatre containing the remains of historical rock art, which produced a deep appreciation for the Jawoyn culture; swimming in a new rock pool each day; exploring waterfalls and relaxing in the sunshine; learning and recognising different plant and bird life in the variety of environments we passed; sleeping under the stars, staring at a clear sky and the moon; and walking as the sun rose and the life around us woke up.

Everyone faced their own individual challenges, whether that be packing their rucksacks in the morning, cooking on the Trangia or walking with painful blisters in the NT heat. These challenges taught us to persevere and to support each other through the experience and learn about ourselves, others and the environment surrounding us.

The 2022 Jatbula trip was a sensational adventure, involving the formation of new friendships, personal growth and perseverance.

Year 11 Mothers Lunch

Our Year 11 mums enjoyed a wonderful catch-up on the last day of Term 2. It was a great day with more than 30 mums attending for lunch at the Kentish Hotel in North Adelaide. Thanks to everybody who turned up!

Naomi Fahey Quick and Rachel Southon
Year 11 Parent Representatives