23 February 2018
Outdoor Education at Saints is integral to the learning program for all boys. For the Middle Years this program commences early, with boys undertaking their lead-in days within the first few weeks of the academic year. Lead-ins are designed to provide opportunities for boys to learn and practise the skills they will need for a successful outdoor education journey later in the year. These activities include setting up tents, cooking on trangias, packing packs, navigating, kayaking, mountain-biking and meal-planning to ensure the boys are well prepared for their week-long journeys.
To complement this, the lead-ins also provide a wonderful opportunity early in the year for our boys to connect with others in their class and spend time with their Mentor. The surfing lesson and bakery lunch add a little fun and luxury to the program. I would like to congratulate all boys for the way they engaged with the activities and supported each other during their days away. I also extend my gratitude to the Middle Years Mentors for their commitment to the program and for their care of the boys whilst away. We very much look forward to supporting our Year 7 boys on their Riverlands Journey in the last week of Term 1 and the Year 8 boys when they visit the Grampians early in Term 2. We will host parent information evenings prior to each of these journeys and details will be communicated separately.
Parent/Mentor Day
Parent/Mentor Day will take place on Friday 2 March and it is a wonderful opportunity for parents and guardians to meet their son’s Mentor. The day is allocated as a pupil-free day, enabling Mentors to be available from 8.30am to 4.00pm for a general discussion about the boys in their Mentor class. Communication has gone home to families outlining the booking procedure for interviews and we encourage all families to find a time to chat with the relevant Mentor. It provides a wonderful opportunity to put faces to names and engage in important dialogue about each boy’s circumstances and needs. All Middle Years Mentors will be located in the Pentreath Building on the day. Families are asked to direct any questions about the day to their son’s Mentor.
James Tamblyn, Head of Middle Years