Faculty

Applied Positive Psychology Update

Year 8 Families

We would like to invite you to be part of the second year of our Rites of Passage Pilot Program in 2025. We are currently immersed in the first year of our program, working with Dr Arne Rubenstein at the Rites of Passage Institute to design and refine a modern rites of passage experience for our students and their families.

Why Rites of Passage?

Rites of Passage have been used for thousands of years by traditional communities to celebrate and acknowledge key life stages. Marking these transitions were seen as fundamental to the growth, connectedness and health of an individual and community.

A healthy, modern Rites of Passage program can help young people navigate the critical teenage years whilst countering unhealthy trends through connections to other people in their community. With the safety created through a Rite of Passage, students can develop a strong sense of purpose and gain essential life skills, including emotional intelligence, resilience and adaptability. 

TGSHS Pilot Program

We see an opportunity to support our families to connect with their adolescents around the idea of becoming a young adult. It is our intention to develop and deliver a modern rites of passage program integrated within our Year 9 Applied Positive Psychology program.

The pilot program involves participation and engagement in the following:

Students placed together in a 2025 Year 9 APP class with a teacher trained in Rites of Passage facilitation
Student induction and preparation day located at Emu Gully Adventure
Parent information session prior to camp
Year 9 Camp with an embedded rites of passage journey
The Return Gathering– families meet students and teachers at the end of camp to recognise and celebrate the journey
Ongoing integration practices

Please register your interest by following the link:

Y9 App 2025

We will be in touch via email to give your more information and hold an information session towards the end of Term 3.

If you have any further questions, please contact Emily Probst (eprob6@eq.edu.au) or Joe Amery (jamer4@eq.edu.au) via email or phone 3511 3888. We appreciate your support and look forward to working with you in 2025.