A Uniting Church coeducational independent day and boarding school on Kaurna Country, Adelaide, South Australia
Early Learning to Year 12
Now that we are in Term 1 of a new year, students should be looking at their Bronze, Silver and Gold ORB (Online record books) and assessing whether they could finish their relevant Award Level early this year in anticipation of moving on to the next level.
Sometimes many areas are completed and it just needs the recording and sign-off requirements to be met. Given the extra incentive of 10 SACE credits for each of the Bronze and Silver Awards and 20 credits for the prestigious Gold Award, I urge students to take this task on.
The Calendar of trips for 2019 can be downloaded below.
Our updated Outdoor Education website has been developed and provides another platform to find out about the opportunities available at Westminster including all consent forms for all Outdoor Education and Duke of Ed Expeditions.
The website is available for students and parents at https://inspire.westminster.sa.edu.au/Play/OutdoorEducation/Pages/default.aspx
In December a group of 21 Duke of Ed students completed the famous Gillespie Pass alpine walking circuit, the students encountered snow in the pass, ice-laden lakes and glorious scenery. The four-day walk was followed up with two days of white-water kayaking on the Hawea River and then a few days of rock-climbing, canyoning and optional adventure activities in and around the Adventure Capital of Queenstown. These end-of-year trips are a great culminating experience for students who are keen to pursue their involvement in expeditions in environments totally diverse from SA.
Heidi Collins has written a reflection of the trip, which can be downloaded below.
In December we are planning for a group of Duke of Edinburgh students to complete the famous Walls of Jerusalem walking circuit, a day of white-water kayaking on the Derwent River and then a few days of rock-climbing at the coastal area of Freycinet. These end-of-year trips are a great culminating experience for students who are keen to pursue their involvement in expeditions in environments totally diverse from SA.
The first of the Westventure camps for 2019 was a great introduction to the school year for over 35 students from three Houses. The weather has tested the students and staff with the flexibility of the program proving that the student outcomes can be achieved despite a degree of modification and adapting to deal with heat or strong winds.
Students have excelled in 5km and 17 km running/jogging/walking activities, kayaking and sailing instruction, two significant two to three day expeditions and a wealth of learning activities that foster growth, development and self-discovery.
The Outdoor Education Staff have been impressed with the start and this has been re-enforced by the many visitors, including the Principal, Head of Senior School, Heads of House and House Captains who have visited the Westventure campus.
We will be conducting a number of expeditions over the April Holidays.
20 Duke of Edinburgh students can visit Innes National Park on Yorke Peninsula for a four day bushwalk, intermixed with a bit of snorkelling and beachcombing activities.
The two Year 12 Outdoor education classes will spend five days climbing the crags at Mount Arapiles in Victoria. Students will complete top rope climbs, multi-pitch climbs and will display the talent to be an independent rock-climbing expedition member. Numerous environmental issues and studies will also be undertaken.
Selected individuals will also be completing an open water PADI scuba diving course to gain certification in the activity. This will be conducted through Adelaide scuba at Glenelg.
Details are on the Outdoor Education website.
Congratulations to the 26 Year 12 students who were presented their Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award at Speech Day 2018. An amazing achievement and our best ever completion rate.
Fraser Bock
Lily Brice-Marwood
Jessica Bullock
Sarah Burns
Sophie Burns
Heidi Collins
Regine Facundo
Jenaiha Graham
Alexander Higgins
Jaidyn Jones
Isabella Kelly
Daniel McArthur
James McLachlan
Matt Meaney
Dimitrios Nikos
Patrick O’Brien
Emily O’Sullivan
Alex Page
Olivia Pieck
Finlay Poole
Tom Taplin
Isabella Triglau-Phillips
Matt Van Riel
Millicent Young
Luke Young
Taj Ward
Gordon Begg
Head of Outdoor Education