OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMME
Georgiana Molloy Anglican School students encounter a broad range of co-curricular experiences beyond the classroom. Personal qualities such as self esteem, confidence, team spirit, dependence, and interdependence are developed by giving our students the opportunity to develop skills not only in cultural and sporting pursuits, but also by active involvement from K-12 in a sequential range of Outdoor Education experiences. Outdoor Education at Georgiana Molloy Anglican School attempts to provide each student (with staff members) to venture slightly beyond their "comfort zone" in life, and as a result of their journey, arrive at a more clearly understood self. In summary, the GMAS Outdoor Education Programme contains the following elements: In the early years (K, Pre Primary, Year 1) Outdoor Education involve students becoming aware of their surroundings outside. These experiences include a day time "Outdoor Ed" experience at school, along with a very general understanding of "the outdoors."
Year 2 allows students possibly their first "home away from home" experience with a one night sleepover at Georgiana Molloy Anglican School with staff.
Years 3 venture away from the school for one night, and Years 4, 5 and 6 each for two nights.
Years 7 and 8 will participate in a four night / five day programme that will advance in complexity over the two year levels.
As part of the Year 9 Outdoor Education experience, students will have an excursion to Canberra, the Snowy Mountains and Sydney.
The jewel in the crown is the remote Year 10 and 11 Outdoor Education programme which is paralleled by few schools nationwide. Students will progress through a series of different "outdoor experience phases" over the time of the programme. Years 12 will be involved in a retreat leadership and career based outdoor education programme which is likely to involve some weekend time to minimise any loss of senior teaching time. Motivational speakers along with university and vocational representatives will participate in delivering the senior programme in an ideal location away from the school.
The Georgiana Molloy Outdoor Education Programme capitalises on the unique landscape and features of the south-west region of Western Australia. Stirling Range National Park, Fitzgerald National Park, Walpole-Nornalup National Park, Mt Frankland National Park, The Cape to Cape Walking Trail, and the Leeuwin- Naturaliste National Park may all be utilised in the Georgiana Molloy Anglican School Outdoor Education Programmes.
Students may sleep with a roof over their heads, or sleep in the world's only million star resort (no roof over their heads!) They may travel by vehicle, or may carry their lives on their backs.
In doing all of these things, I am sure that they will return home (and back to school) a little bigger, a little braver, and a little better.
Bruce Rixon
PRINCIPAL