Gnurad Gundidj is pleased to welcome its student cohort for the term 3 School for Student Leadership program.  

Arrival day saw a range of emotions and feelings being displayed from: "isn't it time to go home mum?" to ""what are we doing tonight?"  - what a positive way to start the term.  After students were acquainted with their surroundings, we embarked on developing meaningful peer and staff relationships through dialogue and a variety of fun and adventurous activities.  Our Campus Principal, Michael Castersen, had the honour of sharing the students' first evening and it was on this night that the student learning experiences began in earnest.  A significant and most relevant aspect of our program is allowing the student time to reflect.  Mr Castersen introduced the students to the concept of "Drop Everything and Reflect" (DEAR).  This is a significant quiet time of the late afternoon/early evening where students employ a newly learnt wide range of reflection tools to assist them in this most worthwhile daily activity.

As week three is in full swing, the students have already completed many learning sequences to do with peer skills, thinking and learning, visions and values, presentation skills and have embarked on their passports and Community Learning Projects (CLP's).  We have added colour to these classes by also completing a multitude of integrated and complementary learning experiences over their first two weeks; these activities have ranged from canoeing, bike touring, fishing, team building bridge and shelter constructions, walks up Mt Noorat and student generated activities.  Recently we have had the pleasure of welcoming Ted Mellor and David Tatnall, two experts in their respective fields of kite making and photography.  The input into our program from relevant experts in the field really does generate a feeling amongst the students that they should chase their dreams and strive to achieve them.

David Tatnall:  http://www.davidtatnall.com/

Ted Mellor: http://blogs.abc.net.au/victoria/2009/05/the-breakfast-1.html

Week three has also seen the completion of the students work in certificated areas such as first aid, CPR and Safe Food Handling. Students have "had a ball" role playing afflictions such as food poisoning, "unsafe" food handling practices, fractured limbs and snake bites.  Week four will see the final preparations and planning going towards the students' first expedition.  They will bike tour and camp near the magical Lake Keilambete, cook a community meal in a camp oven and share stories!.  This "expo" will be a more concrete opportunity to enhance, explore and elaborate on their leadership skills - they return very pleased with their achievements.
Lake Keilambete: http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/glenregn.nsf/pages/eruption_points_keilambete

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