The last two weeks have been a whirlwind as the Year 12 cohort of 2021 count down the final days of their secondary schooling.

This week the girls have enjoyed the range of celebrations and rites of passage, including the House Breakfasts, the Walk of Honor and Final Assembly.

Last week, it was wonderful to welcome back a number of recent old scholars to share their experiences in the early days after leaving school at the Welcome to Old Scholars Breakfast in Hender Hall. As an educator, there is nothing more rewarding than to hear what old scholars are doing after school and to witness the growth and resilience they have achieved.

In discussions I have had with the Year 12 girls, they are experiencing a range of emotions about leaving school. For some students, Wilderness is all that they have known for the last 13 years of their lives, for others, it has been a small part of their total education thus far. However, I am sure that there is a sense of nervousness and excitement for all students as they step out into the next stage of their lives.

As John F Kennedy once said:

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future”

Good luck to all Year 12s as they close one door and begin the next exciting stage of their lives. Do not be strangers to the School. We look forward to hearing of your progress over the years ahead.

United Nations Youth Crisis Point Day

Several Wilderness girls from Years 9 to 11 attended the United Nations Youth Crisis Point day on Saturday 16 October. The girls joined representatives from other schools across South Australia.

Broking solutions in real-time, they had to problem solve, negotiate and debate their way through simulated events. Representing a country, the Wilderness delegates were put in the role of a key diplomat to solve global security and humanitarian issues including an energy crisis, rebellions, and climate change. In tackling these issues, the girls employed collaborative skills, creative thinking and ultimately represented their country’s interest whilst compromising with other stakeholders.

All students had a fantastic time, formed new friendships and immersed themselves in the complexity of critical global issues.

RAA Street Smart High Program

On Tuesday, all Year 11 Girls attended the RAA Road Safety presentation at the Entertainment Centre. This program focuses on educating youth about driving and passenger risks through increased knowledge and positive attitudes towards road safety. Young people need to be exposed to road safety education consistently. The program provided a range of guest speakers who spoke openly and honestly about their personal experiences with road accidents and the impact these have on their lives.

End of Year Examinations

A reminder that Year 12 SACE Exams will begin on Monday 1 November with Mathematical Methods in the morning. All Year 12s have been provided with the exam schedule. Girls are welcome to attend school during SWOTVAC to meet with their teachers or to study.

Year 10 and 11 Exams will take place during Week 7 from Monday 22 November to Friday 26 November.

Silver Duke of Edinburgh Ral Ral Paddle

Please enjoy the following reflection from Year 10 students, Charlie Bower, Jessica Craig, Millie Maclachlan and Sienna Grech.

In Week 1 of Term 4, the Silver Duke of Edinburgh girls had the pleasure of kayaking the back waters around Ral Ral Creek on the River Murray.

We spent five days exploring and appreciating the beautiful landscapes and scenery that the Riverland provides. The 45km paddle was filled with historical and cultural information, fun moments, and a whole lot of laughs.

We were lucky enough to be joined by a local, Ruth, who gave us an insight into the history of the area and information about the river's, plants and animal life.

A highlight was the silent sunrise paddle where we all got the time to appreciate the view, and although the 5:20am wake up call was tough, it was highly rewarding and we were all very proud of what we had achieved.

We were so grateful that we were given the opportunity to participate in this adventurous journey for the Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award and that we were able to take more responsibility and be more self-directed in our learning.