Secondary Life
Year 9 Outdoor Education Climbing Camp
Ella de Haan - Outdoor Education Trainee
During week 3, our Year 9 Outdoor Education students embarked on a rock-climbing camp at Mt Arapiles in Western Victoria. They spent the week exploring the mountain and participating in activities including top-roping, multi-pitching, and abseiling. Alongside working on and mastering these skills, they also contributed to camp life by planning and cooking their own meals, setting up, and managing their camp, promoting teamwork and shared responsibility.
The students also spent some time actively engaged in environmental work, protecting and watering young banksia in the area. This hands-on initiative underscored the importance of preserving the natural habitat for future generations of adventurers.
Their time at Mt Arapiles was an adventure that combined climbing with community engagement and environmental stewardship. As the students honed their climbing skills, they also cultivated values of cooperation, communal living, and environmental responsibility.
Upon their return, the students had not only developed their enjoyment of rock climbing but also gained a deeper appreciation for working together in a community and safeguarding the environment. Their time at Mt Arapiles exemplified the power of adventure and personal challenge, instilling in them a lasting respect for nature and the significance of collective efforts to maintain a sustainable and thriving ecosystem that can be used and enjoyed by all.
Year 11 Formal
David Mitton - Year 11 Coordinator
In what proved to be a wonderful time of fun and community building, the Year 11s came together on a recent Friday evening to celebrate their formal at the Amora Riverwalk Hotel in Richmond.
With a photo booth capturing unforgettable moments, plenty of delicious food and a bustling dance floor, students took a break from their studies to enjoy some well-deserved down-time together.
The event had a charity focus and I am pleased to announce that the Year 11s raised over $1,000 for the One Heart Foundation. Our sincere thanks to Friends of Donvale and the students who made up the formal committee, for all your hard work.
The evening was an enormous success!
Create2Advocate
Taimi Buchan - Year 9 Teacher
Advocate //ˈæd.və.keɪt//: to speak for, support, or represent a person or group of people who may need extra help or protection.
Create2Advocate is an interactive educational initiative designed for our Year 9 students, encouraging them to explore the question, "What stirs your heart?" In response to this query, they delve into the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and contextualise them within people groups around the world who face injustice, without a platform or voice to tell their story.
Subsequently, each student creates a piece of art that advocates for their cause. Each instalment is paired with an artist's statement that brings to light the situation of their chosen people and explains the nuances and symbolism of their artistic choices.
On a recent Wednesday evening, our Community Hub was brimming with Year 9 students' families and friends who gathered to admire these thought-provoking installations. There was a wide array of visual arts, live performances, sculptures, models, interactive exhibits, and installations, all aimed at raising awareness about issues that matter to them. The ambiance was rich and contemplative, and we take immense pride in the remarkable accomplishments of our Year 9 students.
