Junior School Snapshot

Junior School Extracurricular

There is never a dull moment in our Junior School. Not only do our girls have access to incredible facilities and learning opportunities in the classroom, but they also enjoy a diverse range of extracurricular activities and clubs before school, during breaks and after school.

Facilitated and supported by our dedicated teachers, these clubs include creative pursuits such as Art, Chess and Games. Those seeking to improve their technology capabilities attend our Techmate evenings or join our STEMies and Coding/Robotics groups. Others with a knack for languages and cultural connectivity pursue Wasabi Club and Sensei Says while some participate in Mindfulness and Philosophy.

Our student-led Earth Angels group actively maintain our gardens and discuss environmental issues, while our GirlZone Book Club for Year 6 girls and their mothers/significant females is held twice a term at night to read and discuss popular books with our Librarian.

We look forward to introducing Little Chefs this term.

OUTDOOR Education

At St Aidan’s, our Outdoor Education Program focuses on personal development through interaction with others and connection to the natural environment.

Outdoor education supports the development of independence, confidence, initiative, decision-making and problem-solving skills. In fact, the social skills that are developed through outdoor education include collaborative and leadership skills and the ability to manage the challenge of an unfamiliar environment.

Our school camps form part of the outdoor education program and are carefully selected to give students a range of activities outside their usual environment.

In Term 1, our Year 4 students spent two days at Maroochy Waterfront Camp where they worked with Character Builders reflecting on how they could step up, step back and encourage one another when trying something new that is out of their comfort zone. Students participated in standup paddleboarding (SUP), kayaking, dragon boat racing and beach activities. We were blessed with perfect weather and the girls thoroughly enjoyed their time and the challenges of the camp.

Our Year 5 students enjoyed three days camping at Camp Currimundi. They developed their outdoor skills through activities such as high ropes, canoeing and archery. Many team-building exercises and personal growth improved their resilience and confidence.

These camps are an exceptional opportunity for our students to develop independence and safe risk-taking behaviour. The accredited instructors lead physical activities to help grow the essential skills, knowledge and behaviours to live healthy and active lives.

Each activity fits into a category and aligns to the Sport Australia Physical Literacy Framework, with the following dimensions:

• Physical

• Psychological

• Social

• Cognitive

Overall, our Outdoor Education Program provides a unique opportunity for students to develop essential life skills and connect with the natural world. It is an integral part of the curriculum and contributes significantly to the personal growth of our students.