THE RITE JOURNEY TRANSITIONING TODAY’S TEENS
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:
• Create strong relationships between teachers and students
• Acknowledge & celebrate each student’s shift to adulthood
• Foster connections with positive adult role models
• Educate & include parents/carers in the process
• Connect students with their strengths & build self-awareness
• 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
• Term 2 - Relationship with others
• Term 3 - Relationship with spirit
• 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.
THE 7CS IN THE RITE JOURNEY
Students have a three lessons of The Rite Journey per week. This time will allow for the connection and growth of our students. It is expected and would be greatly appreciated that external appointments where possible are not made during these classes.
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.
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…
• I really enjoyed it when…
• Thank you for all the times you…
• I really like it when you…
• Something that I like/appreciate about you is…
• Something I’d like you to know is…
• As you begin your journey to adulthood I promise to…
• I really appreciate it when you...
• I would really like to …. more often with you.
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 to discuss with your child the selection of a mentor, as they will be required to have at least one conversation per term with their mentor about the course. They will have specific questions to ask, guided by their Rite Journey teacher. We believe that this is fundamental is fostering growth in every individual. The Rite Journey teacher will provide more details about this in class during Term 1.
KEY DATES
Parent Information Evening
Date: Thursday 30 January
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Venue: Founders Hall, St Michael’s College
Attending: Parents/Caregivers of Year 9 students
Calling Ceremony
Date: Monday 3 March
Time: Lesson 7 & 8
Venue: 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)
Attending: Year 9 students
Departure Ceremony
Date: Monday 3 March
Time: 6:00 pm (Students will remain at school and participate in activities until the Departure Ceremony commences)
Venue: St Michael’s College Secondary Campus Oval 4
Attending: Year 9 Students & Parents/Caregivers
Student Challenge - Mt Lofty Hike Term 1
Date: Monday 7 April
Time: Normal school start
Venue: Departing St Michael’s College by bus to Mt Lofty, followed by a hike to the Summit
Attending: Year 9 students
Student Challenge - The Rough Sleepout
Date: Thursday 26 June
Time: 6:00 pm and pick-up at 7:30 am on Friday 27 June
Venue: St Michael’s College
Attending: Year 9 students
Camp - Girls Classes
Camp: Monday 8 September - Wednesday 10 September
Venue: Mt Crawford, Mt Lofty Ranges
Attending: Year 9 Girls classes
Camp - Boys Classes
Camp: Wednesday 10 September - Friday 12 September
Venue: Mt Crawford, Mt Lofty Ranges
Attending: Year 9 Boys classes
Graduation Ceremony
Date: TBA
Time: 6:00 pm
Venue: St Michael’s College
Attending: Parents/Caregivers and Year 9 students
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
