Gnurad-Gundidj Campus nearly ready to open.

The new $4.2m campus that is currently under construction has an anticipated completion of February 2009. This is exactly to the construction program schedule.

After an anticipated pilot program in term 1, term 2 will be a fully functioning program incorporating all the known and valued features of the Alpine School, in a new and fantastic location.

The building uses many contemporary design elements that address environmentally sustainable requirements. A solar chimney dominates the north courtyard. This element is used to great effect at the Snowy River Campus. It both heats and cools the building depending on the season. Students are able to interact with this element to manage the comfort of their home and workplace.

• View Slideshow of construction progress [Now updated February 2009]

The exterior is intended to resemble a western Victorian wool shed or shearing shed. Carefully designed slats on each bedroom window are included to allow or limit sun penetration depending on the season. Much computer modelling was undertaken to get their positions correct: the effect is also intended to look random and whimsical, even though they are extremely specific in their positioning!

The Campus Principal, Mr Michael Castersen, has been appointed. In term 4 2008, working with the Principal Mark Reeves and other leadership team members, the remaining teaching and support staff positions have been recruited.

The new teaching team at Gnurad-Gundidj consists of the following hand picked and highly qualified team members:

• Curriculum coordinator: Peter Torey (recruited from Methodist Ladies College)
• Health & wellbeing Coordinator: Honor Woodhouse (recruited form Derrinallum P-12 College)
• Teaching team:
  • Jordan Smith (recruited form Snowy Campus)
  • Simon Hastings (recruited from Alpine Campus)
  • Francis Chen
  • Jennifer Ripper
  • Andrew Porter
  • Joanne Conway
  • Kylie Moroney
  • Brett Easton
• The rest of the team, overnight supervisors, caterers and office team will be soon recruited.

The operation will based upon the successful facilities and program operating at Dinner Plain since 2000 and at Snowy River Campus since 2006. Over the nine weeks of the program, 45 students living in two separate gender specific accommodation wings will undertake an intensive leadership development program that has evolved and been refined over the years. Adolescent learning needs and residential living are at the core of the program and approach to care.

The School has maintained the same contribution structure at its campuses since 2000. The cost of $1000 per student for a nine week program will be applied at Gnurad-Gundidj.

All students benefit from an integrated laptop computer, wireless internet, e-communication with friends and family and much more. An integrated laptop computer program will enhance e-learning and e-communication, and students will develop leadership skills that will enable them to implement a Community Learning Project (CLP), chosen as part of their application, upon their return to their home schools and communities. The CLP is an integrated Civics & Citizenship VELS domain component, focussing upon the Community Engagement Dimension. This fully integrated curriculum will be successfully conducted as per our other campuses.

Students will develop a Learning Passport, undertake a Personal Progress Interview and complete a Presentation of Learning. Reflective processes are a key daily component of the program. Staff will provide considerable immediate and post program feedback to students. These assessment and learning tools enhance schools’ ability to report on student learning in the VELS Domains of Interpersonal Development and Personal Learning, ICT and Thinking Processes.

An outdoor adventure and expedition program will allow further leadership development through interaction with and learning about the local natural environment. All specialist outdoor and adventure clothing and equipment is provided.

The exact nature and extent of the adventure and expedition program will be finalised with the appointment of key staff. However, the region provides many excellent opportunities that will differentiate the Glenormiston program from the other two campuses in this specific regard. It is anticipated that the wise, golden plains, volcanic calderas, lakes and beaches of the areas offer unparalleled opportunities at our doorstep for outdoor and adventure education.

It is anticipated a close working relationship will over time evolve with SWIT, who operate the Glenormiston Agricultural College campus adjacent to the new facility. It is hoped that in time this will enable students to develop an understanding of agricultural learning.

Community information evenings will be undertaken at locations convenient for successful schools, by the Head of campus, in early 2009. These will provide further information for students, families and liaison teachers.

Accommodation follows the tried and proven model from Alpine and then Snowy campuses. Students live in simple but not austere gender-specific accommodation wings. Their rooms are robust, to withstand the punishment of year nine students, easy to maintain and clean and have practical storage solutions. Our experience with adolescent storage, usually on the floor, has lead to a simple and practical compromise. Students manage their own laundry and personal hygiene., usually very successfully!

The first teams to live, learn and grow at Gnurad-Gundidj do so on 1 March 2009. The new team will create the educational environment from January 28 2009.

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