St Michael 's College – a Catholic school in the Lasallian tradition
THE RITE JOURNEY OVERVIEW HANDBOOK 2024
The Rite Journey - transitioning today’s teens through unique educational programs For over 20 years The Rite Journey has been providing unique educational programs in schools and organisations designed to support the development of self-aware, responsible, respectful, resilient, reflective and resourceful adults. The Rite Journey is a year long program designed to: •
Acknowledge & celebrate each student’s shift to adulthood
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Offer conversations & experiences to guide this transition
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Foster connections with positive adult role models
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Educate & include parents/carers in the process
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Connect students with their strengths & build self-awareness
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Transform school culture by developing responsibility
The Rite Journey program has been developed with the intention of helping children navigate their way through to adulthood. The program will challenge your child to engage in class discussions about their transition to becoming an adult and will help them to become responsible, resilient, resourceful, and respectful young adults. Each term will focus on a different topic including: •
Term 1 - Relationship with self
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Term 3 - Relationship with spirit
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Term 2 - Relationship with others
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Term 4 - Relationship with the world
The Rite Journey teacher will work alongside your child as they undertake activities, challenges, become involved with mentors, and take part in a series of challenges on camp. They will work to help your child develop skills to be confident young citizens with a sense of purpose. Your support in the events that take place throughout the year are critical to the success of this program. We look forward to working with you this year to ensure that we can achieve positive outcomes for your child. If you have any queries throughout the year, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Rite Journey Teacher. You can also access the website www.theritejourney.com for further information and resources to support your child.
Brent Parfrey Year 9 Director
Chloe Harby Year 9 Assistant Director
Jesicca Tonarelli Year 9 Assistant Director
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The Rite Journey - Within the Curriculum Health and Physical Education The Rite Journey uses content and outcomes from the Australian ‘Health and Physical Education’ Curriculum version 9.0. This content includes but is not limited to the Content Descriptors: • refine, evaluate and adapt strategies for managing changes and transitions (AC9HP10P02) • analyse factors that shape identities and evaluate how individuals influence the identities of others (AC9HP10P01) • evaluate emotional responses in different situations to refine strategies for managing emotions (AC9HP10P06) • create and refine movement strategies to achieve successful outcomes across a range of challenging movement situations (AC9HP10M02) • participate in physical activities that promote health and social outcomes to design and evaluate participation strategies for themselves and others (AC9HP10M05) • devise, implement and refine strategies for decision-making when working in groups or teams that demonstrate leadership and collaboration skills (AC9HP10M09) Further information on the outcomes and expected achievement standards can be found at: www.asutraliancurriculum.edu.au
Time Allocation Students have a minimum of 3 lessons for the Rite Journey per week. There will also be extended Pastoral Care time (outside of Masses and assemblies) allocated to physical activity opportunities where students will participate in a range of House and class-based activities. There will be 1-2 lessons per week which will be movement/practical based.
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St Michael’s College
THE RITE JOURNEY PARENT HANDBOOK 2024
The 7 Cs in The Rite Journey The Rite Journey program is designed to provide your child with the tools to become a responsible adult who displays the traits of courage, collaboration, consideration, compassion, commitment and connection. There is a challenge component to the program, including participation in the Term 3 camp. The challenges are there for your child to take responsibility for completing these tasks. For the free choice challenges, your child will need to select a challenge from the list of options, and gain approval from their Rite Journey teacher prior to commencing the challenge. Your child will need to write a brief reflection on their challenges and show their teachers evidence of their challenge being completed. Your child will be presented with more information around this in their Rite Journey class.
COURAGE
CONNECTION
COLLABORATION
COMMITMENT
CONSIDERATION
CAMP
COMPASSION
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The Departure Ceremony Caregiver Gratitude Letter It is important that you bring your letter to the Departure Ceremony on Monday 4 March The Rite Journey Departure Ceremony is a significant event for your child as it signifies the beginning of their journey from childhood to adulthood. Students spend time in Rite Journey classes reflecting on their childhood and all that they are grateful for. The Departure Ceremony gives students an opportunity to express this gratitude to you as parents/caregivers. It provides an opportunity for you as parents/caregivers to reflect on and celebrate the blessing your child has been to you and your family. You are invited to participate in this reflection process by way of writing a letter to your child expressing your gratitude to them and wish them well in their journey into adulthood. The letter is an opportunity for you to share your favourite childhood memories of your child and what you appreciate about them. Please bring this letter with you to The Departure Ceremony as you will have an opportunity to read it to your child at this time. The success of this ceremony for our students relies on the involvement and support of parents and caregivers. The letter presentation is a central part of this ceremony. We invite parents/caregivers to join us on the oval and bring a picnic rug and snacks to share and enjoy together. Below are some ideas to support you writing this letter, more specific details will come closer to the date.
Caregiver Gratitude Letter Sentence Starters •
My favourite childhood memory of you is…
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I really enjoyed it when…
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Thank you for all the times you…
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I really like it when you…
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Something that I like/appreciate about you is…
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Something I’d like you to know is…
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As you begin your journey to adulthood I promise to…
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I really appreciate it when you...
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I would really like to …. more often with you.
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St Michael’s College
THE RITE JOURNEY PARENT HANDBOOK 2024
Mentor Program At St Michael’s College, we believe that an important part of The Rite Journey program is having our students engage with well meaning adults to provide extra guidance and support throughout the year. There is an extensive amount of research which suggests that exposure to a wide range of positive role models has an important impact on supporting children at this stage of their development. The idea of “it takes a village to raise a child” is central to this aspect of The Rite Journey. Having a positive relationship with adults other than parents is important to young people and decreases the likelihood that your child will take part in risk taking behaviours. A supportive connection with at least one other adult (other than parents) also has a positive correlation with success at school, as students have access to a range of knowledgeable and caring adults outside of their parents. It is important that you have a conversation with your child about a person they might choose to spend some time with throughout the year, working on a project together, learning a new skill, volunteering, or participating in an activity both child and mentor are passionate about. The Rite Journey teacher will provide further information about this in class during Term 1.
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Key Dates
Parent Information Evening Date: Time: Venue: Attending:
Thursday 8 February 7:00 - 8:00 pm Founders Hall, St Michael’s College Parents/Caregivers of Year 9 students
Calling Ceremony Date: Time: Venue: Attending:
Term 1
Monday 4 March Lesson 7 & 8 Students will undertake a Beach Walk from St Michael’s and will return to the College where they will undertake Journey activities until the Departure Ceremony (students will be under the supervision of teachers) Year 9 students
Departure Ceremony Date: Time: Venue: Attending:
Term 1
Monday 4 March 6:00 pm St Michael’s College Secondary Campus Oval 4 Year 9 Students & Parents/Caregivers
Student Challenge - SMC Fun Run Date: Time: Venue: Attending:
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Term 1
Term 1
Friday 5 April 1:00 pm start Departing from St Michael’s College along the beach towards Moredun Street Beach Reserve before returning to the College Year 9 students
St Michael’s College
THE RITE JOURNEY PARENT HANDBOOK 2024
Student Challenge - The Rough Sleepout Date: Time: Venue: Attending:
Friday 9 August - Saturday 10 August 6:00 pm - 9:00 am St Michael’s College Year 9 students
Camp - Boys Classes Camp 1: Camp 2: Venue: Attending:
Term 3
Monday 16 September - Wednesday 18 September Wednesday 18 September - Friday 20 September Mt Crawford, Mt Lofty Ranges Year 9 Girls classes
Homecoming Ceremony Date: Time: Venue: Attending:
Term 3
Monday 9 September - Wednesday 11 September Wednesday 11 September - Friday 13 September Mt Crawford, Mt Lofty Ranges Year 9 Boys classes
Camp - Girls Classes Camp 1: Camp 2: Venue: Attending:
Term 3
Term 4
Thursday 28 November 6:00 pm St Michael’s College Parents/Caregivers & Year 9 students
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Recommended Reading Recommended reading for parents (students in general) • What All Children Want Their Parents to Know by Diana Loomans • Parenting with Presence by Susan Stiffelman • Positive Parenting: An Essential Guide by Rebecca Eanes • The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey • How to Raise an Adult by Julie Lythcott Haims • 9 Ways to a Resilient Child by Dr. Justin Coulson • Too Safe for Their Own Good by Michael Ungar • The Teenage Brain by Frances E Jensen • 12 Huge Mistakes Parents Can Avoid by Tim Elmore • The Art of Growing Up by John Marsden
Recommended reading for parents (Girls) • 10 Things Girls Need Most by Steve Biddulph • Raising Girls by Steve Biddulph • A Blessing Not a Curse by Jane Bennett • Queen Bees and Wannabees by Rosalind Wiseman • Fathers and Daughters by Madonna King • The Butterfly Effect by Danielle Miller
Recommended reading for parents (Boys) • He’ll Be Ok: Growing Gorgeous Boys into Good Men by Celia Lashlie • Raising Boys in the 21st Century by Steve Biddulph • What’s Happening to Our Boys? By Maggie Hamilton • Ringleaders and Sidekicks by Roaslind Wiseman • The Prince Boofhead Syndrome by Michael Carr Greg • Ten Conversations You Must Have With Your Son by Dr. Time Hawkes
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St Michael’s College
THE RITE JOURNEY PARENT HANDBOOK 2024
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Primary Campus
Secondary Campus
78 East Avenue Beverley, SA 5009
15 Mitton Avenue Henley Beach, SA 5022
08 8346 6548 smcprimary@smc.sa.edu.au
08 8356 5966 smc@smc.sa.edu.au