School for student leadership - Alpine School

Over nine weeks in Term 3, four Year 9 students attended the School for Student Leadership Alpine School Campus in Dinner Plains. The School for Student Leadership is a Victorian Department of Education (DET) initiative offering a unique residential education experience for Year 9 students. 

The curriculum focuses on personal development and team learning projects sourced from students' home regions. During their eight week stay, students lived and worked in a very close environment with approximately 40 students from both country and city schools.  

As part of the curriculum, Micah, Deepa, Santosh & Ocean developed a community learning project to implement back at school. Together they developed ‘Mind of Matter’, a video aiming to raise awareness on promoting positive mental health at school. This was presented to all Year 7-10 students at assembly earlier this term.  

We are proud of their individual development, growth and leadership development. Read about their reflections below. 

Micah: 

My time at the Alpine School for Student Leadership was an unforgettable experience that taught me so much about myself and what it means to lead. I loved every moment of it - especially skiing and snow camping, which pushed me to try new things and step outside my comfort zone. The people I met made the experience even more special, the friendships I built there are ones I’ll always value. Over the weeks, I discovered that leadership isn’t just about taking charge - it’s about listening, communicating, and helping others reach their best. I became more confident, independent, and open-minded, learning how to handle challenges calmly and work as part of a team. The Alpine School taught me to stay whelmed, it helped me see that real leadership comes from kindness, cooperation, and a willingness to keep learning, and it’s an experience I’ll carry with me for a long time. 

Ocean:  

SSL has provided me with an experience of a lifetime. Not only has it welcomed me to a whole new world, but it has also taught me some incredibly valuable skills. From skiing to persevering in expos to the classroom learning about identity, it has informed me on more than just how cold snow is. I have grown as a person, a citizen of this community, a friend, a brother, and someone who people can turn to, and I plan to continue int his path, and learn more about myself and the things around me. 

Santosh:  

Being at the SSL was my highlight of the year! I made so many friends and even learnt how to ski! It was a great opportunity for me to take a break and improve on my own leadership skills, which would definitely prove to be useful in the future. I enjoyed being able to experience independence through performing duties such as doing my own laundry, serving dinner and washing the dishes after. My favourite part was the downhill ski days, where we would go to Mt Hotham and ski for the entire day! In my time at the SSL, I have grown to be much better than I was before the camp, and I would like to keep the momentum going. Though I was away from subjects like Mathematics, English and Science, the lessons I learnt at the SSL go way beyond the superficial level. So, I strongly suggest the future Year 9 students should go for this once in a lifetime opportunity. After all, “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.”