When I meet with prospective Wilderness families, I often will discuss the four values put forward by the Misses Brown, which have served the School community so well for 138 years.

The notion of unlimited kindness in Respectful Relationships is central to everything that occurs at Wilderness along with Responsible Citizenship. While it is important to achieve the best possible result in Year 12, for me, it is just important to see the ways girls give back to their community, whether that be at a local, state or national level, beyond the gates of Wilderness.

Engaging in community service provides girls with the opportunity to become active members of their community and has a lasting, positive impact on society at large. Whether it be tree planting after the Cuddlee Creek fires, the Sony Camp or the ‘Fun in the Wilderness’ Foster Care Program with Anglicare, these activities make a difference and bring joy to all involved. This is summarised beautifully in the following quote.

“A person’s most useful asset is not a head full of knowledge, but a heart full of love, an ear ready to listen and a hand willing to help others.” Unknown

Paratus Program

Last Thursday and Friday, we welcomed Rosanna Mangiarelli (Channel 7 Network) to Wilderness to present the Paratus Program to the Year 10 girls. Paratus is the Latin word meaning ‘ready for anything’. The two-hour workshop focused on providing students with the social skills to build their confidence and effectively communicate anywhere from home to their future workplaces. This session fits well with the Employ Me unit covered in Artemis this term, culminating with the girls’ work experience in the last week of Term 3. Thank you to Mrs Caroline Rocco and Mrs Deb Cleggett for the considerable amount of work they have done to ensure the work experience program runs smoothly.

SRC Planning Day

The newly elected SRC spent last Friday with Ms Jane Danvers, Mrs Rosie Broderick, myself and their staff mentors planning for 2022. The day focused on their personal leadership journey and the planning of key events for the year ahead. The opportunity to spend time with the outgoing SRC is an important part of this program to ensure that the girls are ready to take over the reins at the start of Term 4 this year. What was stressed to the girls is the importance of service and taking others on the journey with them. This is how they make a difference and leave the Wilderness community better because of their actions and endeavors.

Sony Camp Training Day

Last Saturday, the Year 10 and 11 girls selected to be involved in the Sony Camp in the Term 3 Holidays, met at St Peters College to undertake training for the program. The camp provides respite care for 16 students with special needs for three days and gives their families a break from the rigors of 24-hour care. Experiences like the Sony Camp are life changing for all students and staff involved. The girls heard from a parent of a previous camper about the impact that the camp had on their family and son. It is these messages that reinforce the importance of service and a willingness to help those less fortunate.