Principal’s Perspective

One of the greatest features of Lauriston is how we encourage girls to engage in life, to try new things, to embrace opportunities and to be reflective of their experiences. We believe that experiential learning forms a fundamental part of the education journey at our School as it fosters connection and collaboration as well as encouraging life-long learning.

As part of our Howqua program, our students participate in experiential learning which involves learning in the classroom, our outdoor program and within the social setting of a residential community.

30 Years Ago

When the Howqua campus was established 30 years ago, the concept of a rural campus for Year 9 students was based on the desire to develop in our student’s greater self-confidence and self-reliance, to increase environmental awareness, to learn the importance of teamwork, and to encourage girls to develop resilience in order to cope with the physical and character demands of living and learning in a bush setting.

Howqua today

The Howqua program has evolved over the last 30 years to meet the changing needs of our students, and to reflect the growing body of research on adolescent development, learning and outdoor education. The COVID-19 pandemic and concerns about the future of our environment have also informed changes to the program and seen an evolution of some of the intentions of the program today.

While the Howqua program has always given attention to each student’s personal growth, there is now a greater emphasis on enabling the girls to focus on their personal identity and their discovery of themselves and connection to others. Collaboration occurs at the Howqua campus through a variety of experiences, from living in a House with peers, to participating in the Outdoor Program where it is critical to work together and care for all members of a group.

Over the course of the year, our outdoor program and fitness program are sequential, taking into account that students will incrementally build their outdoor skills, just as they will build their levels of physical fitness. Like our academic curriculum, the Howqua program is scaffolded and allows students to challenge themselves and to revisit activities previously completed with the opportunity to further finesse and develop their skills. This is all part of the process of learning, in that we reflect upon how far we have come, learn from our mistakes, and demonstrate a willingness to try again.

Developing skills for life

Ultimately, through the Howqua program, we strive to develop skills and attributes for life. We strive for each girl to establish her own voice and develop both the ability to communicate in a variety of different settings and situations, but also the confidence to speak for herself, offer ideas and opinions, and respond to the different views which others may hold in a respectful manner.

Similarly, being immersed in an environment where students do not have access to personal digital technologies means that students have time to practise their social skills, develop meaningful relationships with their peers and teachers, and face adversities in which their resilience will be further developed.

Meaningful relationships

Every element of the Howqua program promotes the values of communication, critical thinking, respect for self and others, and learning to take responsibility. Within the program, students are given a range of responsibilities in which they hold themselves and others accountable, and are accepting of different personalities, values and backgrounds.

The relationships Howqua teachers establish with their students are also unique, as our teachers walk alongside students during the Howqua year, participating in all aspects of the program. Howqua teachers are role models who influence student experiences by the way they react, respond and take actions in the various settings in which they find themselves, be this is in the classroom, through their participation in the outdoor or fitness programs, or in their capacity as House Tutor.

Year 9 done differently

There is no doubting that the Howqua program is a defining feature of the education provided at Lauriston. The outcomes we strive for are complex in that they are about supporting our girls to build skills and attributes for life. I often see the skills and attributes gained at Howqua continue to develop when our students return to the Armadale campus, and I am told by many of our Howqua alumnae that some of the most important lessons learned at Howqua are not realised or understood until many years later.

It was a brave decision in the early 1990s to purchase land, build the Howqua campus and establish the program. I use the term ‘brave’ because I believe the Howqua program was as unique then, as it is now, and it required us to step out of our comfort zone to be innovative in the education we provide.

Susan Just Principal