Rites of Passage RITES OF PASSAGE, CIRCLES AND STORIES: EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE – EMPOWERED TO BE COURAGEOUS
Year 7 students and their parents
Year 7 students embarked on their
with, the girls were separated from
first camp to Vision Valley during two
their families for four days. They then
separate weeks in May and June.
experienced a range of activities and
The story-sharing, smiles and tears,
challenges that were exciting and
challenges, time spent in nature and
potentially out of their comfort zone,
the deepening of the connection to
before moving into a visioning and
community are a big part of our
honouring process, and finally returning
Outdoor Education programs.
to their homes and lives. The parents of
were the first group to experience the framework in practice. To begin
each of the girls were invited to draft a The Rites of Passage Institute has been working with Pymble in 2021 to enhance our focus on student wellbeing, and cultivate and engage the whole community of teachers/staff, parents and students on the journey. This includes designing and gradually embedding key
special letter to be given to them during the camp. They were also invited to attend the final night of the program to experience Vision Valley, hear from Dr Hadwen and me, and participate in a simple process with the students and their Compass groups.
components of the Rites of Passage transformational education journey into
Each student took their time to read and
the current and future framework of
think carefully, in private, about what
the school. The main components of
their parents had shared with them in
a Rite of Passage at key life transitions
their letter. It was a beautiful time of
involves firstly Separating out of your
reflection for the girls.
normal environment, followed by a Transformational process appropriate for
The girls also took time to think about
the culture, age and level of the group,
their peers within their Compass
and then being supported by good,
group and identify three things about
practical Integration practices.
each person that they like, love, respect or admire.
