At Prince Alfred College, our boy-centred education program extends beyond the classroom with unique experiences tailored to each developmental stage. In this story, we share with you the opportunity our Year 8 students undertake through their Activities Week Rotations.
Each term our Year 8s head out on one of four programs for Activities Week. This unique program takes the boys out of the classroom and focusses on experiential learning where they get to be educated beyond the gates of the College and learn by doing. Last week, our boys headed out in their House groups for five days of exploration, learning, team work and fun.
The boys from Taylor took part in Adelaide Week where they visited various places in the city and parklands of Adelaide. On walking tours, they were provided with opportunities to consider the interconnected nature of various times, places, and knowledge in general, with the city of Adelaide as the setting. It was great to see the boys engage with the experience. Some of the places visited were the Adelaide Central Markets, Parliament, the Botanic Gardens, the Adelaide Bowling Club and the Adelaide Oval. Students also took part in a service activity and packed care bags for the Hutt St Centre.
Cotton boys went to Sprout on the EduCook Programme. Here, old boy Themis Chryssidis, and his team, took the boys through their paces in the superbly equipped kitchen. The boys learned new recipes, practiced techniques and utilised their skills to design a mini food business. The week culminated with parents and staff attending the lunch on Friday. The groups displayed their business ideas and cooked a delicious meal for everyone attending.
In the EduKart programme, Watsford students worked in small groups to build, refine, test and race electric powered vehicles. It is very much a hands-on learning program, with natural connections to what the boys learn in classrooms at school. The first three days of the program involved the construction phase. This was followed by two days off campus, where teams were given the opportunity to test and refine their vehicles to optimise performance in a bid to meet challenges, including drag racing and time trials. Needless to say, the boys were fully engrossed in the activities and loved the feeling of driving the karts.
The Waterhouse boys headed out on their Year 8 Outdoor Education experience at Scotts Creek, which is always a highlight of the year. The program is designed to find the balance between environmental education, personal development, and adventure. At the beautiful and scenic Outdoor Centre, the boys experienced climbing on the adventure high ropes course and were given the opportunity to complete the Big Wall and various team challenges. They then took part in a 2-night kayak expedition where they developed skills in leadership, teamwork, kayaking, navigation, camp craft and water safety. Paddling down the Murray River is quite an experience. This, along with cooking and sleeping in the outdoors, and having fun with mates provided the boys with an amazing and unforgettable experience.
Full credit to the boys on engaging with the programs and representing the College so well. A big thank you to the many staff involved in planning, organising and facilitating the programs. It takes a tremendous team effort to arrange and make activities such as these happen so successfully.
Graham Duffy
Head of Middle Years
