Middle School

Year 7 Glenelg River 

Since my last newsletter article, the Year 7s have returned from their Glenelg River journey as part of the College’s Outdoor Education Program. This is the first time that many of the Year 7s have completed a self-sufficient, journey-based camp carrying all that they need to live, survive and thrive for four days. The camp has formed part of Year 7 Outdoor Education since 2003, and the Glenelg River is such a beautiful environment.   

The Middle Years Outdoor Education Program focuses on learning about self, others and the environment, along with, as Mr Bell outlines, to “extend their window of tolerance.” Outdoor education engages students in practical and active learning experiences beyond the school classroom in the natural world. The Glenelg River journey forms part of the Outdoor Education experiences that all of our students complete through Year 7, 8 and 9 and offers a great progression into the Year 8 Mittagundi Experience and the Year 9 City and Vietnam Experiences. 

While this year the Year 7s experienced some challenging weather conditions, dealing with high winds and rain, they all showed an exceptionally positive attitude, worked well together, persisted in the face of challenges, and were inclusive of all in their group. As a cohort, the Year 7s are social, energetic and becoming more and more confident in their own abilities. It has been pleasing to see them return to their classes over the last couple of weeks and put into practice much of what they have learned from the camp. They should be excited about the Outdoor Education experiences that await them in 2026 and beyond.   

With the conclusion of our Middle Years Outdoor Education Experiences for 2025, the Middle Years Centre is buzzing with lots of talk and socialising. It certainly demonstrates the value of these experiences for developing relationships and working as a team. I hope that the Year 7, 8 and 9 students can continue to work well with each other and finish Term Four off well.   

Dr Ben Hawthorne

Head of Middle Years