STUDENT LEADERSHIP

Seven Brighton Secondary students were selected earlier in the year to attend the School For Student Leadership at Haining Farm (Don Valley) in Term 3. Four days into this 9-week experience, lockdown restrictions began. Students were able to remain at the school until, after 3 weeks, they had to return home to Melbourne.

Nevertheless, the students described this experience as the best thing they’d ever done. The opportunity to be able to live away from home, with students from other schools in an outdoor environment was a significant time of learning and growth. The students engaged with a curriculum based on real-life learning strategies and attributes of resilience, emotional management and empathy. The focus was on developing leadership experience in teamwork, public speaking and communication. One student reflected on having learnt the importance of vulnerability in leadership.

Activities included hiking via the O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail to the Redwood Forest, bridge-building, mountain-biking and team-building activities.

Sadly, after a few weeks had passed, the school had to send students home due to Covid restrictions. This was a challenging time of transition from living in community to life in lockdown. However, these experiences also brought the students who attended Haining Farm much closer together. Friendships and bonds were formed that are likely to last many years.

Brighton Secondary have been offered six places for Year 9 students at Haining Farm in Term 2 next year. More information will be provided to students during Commencement about this opportunity.

Abigail McCarroll (Year 9) on behalf of Aliyah Cheema, Orlando Hall, Oscar Harrison, Harleen Purewal, Luis Ponchard and Angus