Weekes' Weekly News

Dear Sacred Heart Kew Families,

There are many important milestones in a young person’s education, first day of Prep, learning to read, mastering long division, and, of course, surviving and thriving away from the ‘creature comforts’, on Senior Camp. This week, I had the pleasure of attending our Senior Camp with our wonderful senior children, along with Mrs Gerecke and Miss Privitelli. 

I love camps for many reasons, but mainly because they are a fantastic opportunity for us all to grow in confidence, independence, resilience (even if sleep isn’t high on the agenda of organised activities). It was remarkable to watch our Senior children (and staff) challenge themselves through activities such as: Giant Swing, Flying Fox, Canoeing, Archery, Team Challenges, and the aged old activity of folding a sleeping bag back into its original cover on the last day (perhaps the greatest test of perseverance ever known) to campers from Kew. 

Senior Camp at Lady Northcote Glenmore, provided children with the opportunity to strengthen friendships and create lifelong memories. Judging by the volume of laughter echoing across the halls late in the evenings, I suspect many memories were made, along with several new world records for the ‘latest possible bedtime, as tiredness was kept at bay.’ Really, what’s just one more card game in the dark...

There is something truly special about seeing children outside the classroom environment, in amongst the eucalyptus, stones and crisp clean country air. Seeing those usually quiet children, suddenly leading team challenges, or witnessing the ‘I can’t possibly survive without a device for three days’ children, somehow forgetting that they ever owned a device, when careering along the Flying Fox zipline at a rate of knots. Friendships deepen, confidence grows, and memories are created that children will talk about for years to come, particularly the stories involving staff attempting camp activities with varying levels of grace and dignity. As tired as everyone was upon returning, Senior Camp once again reminded me why these experiences matter so much. Camps teach resilience, independence, gratitude, teamwork, and empathy, lessons that are sometimes difficult to fully capture inside the classroom walls. 

A special thank you must go to our incredible staff members who generously gave their time, energy, and, in some cases, any hope of uninterrupted sleep. School camps are only possible because of the dedication of staff willing to swap the comfort of home for bunk beds, torchlight patrols, and answering the timeless camp question ‘What time is breakfast?’ I have no doubt that everyone who resided at Lady Northcote Glenmore this week will sleep very well tonight. 

Wishing everyone a lovely (sleep filled) weekend. 

Kind Regards,

Ed Weekes 

School Principal