Rites of Passage

RITES OF PASSAGE, CIRCLES AND STORIES: EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE – EMPOWERED TO BE COURAGEOUS

Year 7 students embarked on their first camp to Vision Valley during two separate weeks in May and June. The story-sharing, smiles and tears, challenges, time spent in nature and the deepening of the connection to community are a big part of our Outdoor Education Programs.

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 components of the Rites of Passage transformational education journey into the current and future framework of the school. The main components of a Rite of Passage at key life transitions involves firstly Separating out of your normal environment, followed by a Transformational process appropriate for the culture, age and level of the group, and then being supported by good, practical Integration practices. Year 7 students and their parents were the first group to experience the framework in practice. To begin with, the girls were separated from their families for four days. They then experienced a range of activities and challenges that were exciting and potentially out of their comfort zone, before moving into a visioning and honouring process, and finally returning to their homes and lives. The parents of each of the girls were invited to draft a 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.

Each student took their time to read and think carefully, in private, about what their parents had shared with them in their letter. It was a beautiful time of reflection for the girls.

The girls also took time to think about their peers within their Compass group and identify three things about each person that they like, love, respect or admire.

This reflection time, and consideration of others, meant that they were guided and encouraged to really connect more deeply to each of the students within their group and build a stronger sense of belonging.

While the girls were having a deep but playful time, their parents were invited to meet up with the other parents of their daughters’ Compass groups and spend time sharing their stories and getting to know one another.

By structuring a simple new way to relate to one another, where intentionality is brought in, parents and students can sit together in Circle, share stories, make commitments, and recognise one another for their unique gifts and talents. This affects the way in which the community is operating as new bonds are formed and connections are made. Recognition of one another in an enhanced way is experienced, and the community of Pymble continues its journey towards cohesion, shared responsibility and connectedness.

Dr Arne Rubinstein

CEO Rites of Passage Institute