Grammar Gazette- Issue 2, 2022

Marrapatta in the City

self-awareness, capabilities and connection to the environment Each student sets personal goals and chooses her level of challenge with each activity, navigating a range of situations respectfully, including being out of her comfort zone, group dynamics, logistical changes, and moving through the physical environment By bringing Marrapatta to the students, we were able to model adaptability and resilience and provide a different type of outdoor learning experience for them, albeit on the grassy slopes of Victoria Park and in the ‘campsite’ of 89 Gregory Terrace. Highlights from the adapted program included the students canoeing in the School pool, exploring the trails at Mount Coot-tha, and learning to cook satisfying meals on their camp stoves Having a go at these activities and others, helped to increase the students’ capacity to try new things and be adaptable, allowed them to navigate new physical challenges, traverse the social structures of community living, and take calculated risks to build their confidence in their abilities. social

The wet start to the year, coupled with 286 mm of rain falling on an already saturated catchment, meant the Marrapatta campus and surrounding Mary Valley communities experienced their third flood for 2022 in the first two weeks of May This weather event caused so much damage that the road to Marrapatta was inaccessible, resulting in the postponement of the 81, 810, 85 and 87 class visits—the second postponement for the latter two groups Demonstrating the resilient spirit of Marrapatta and BGGS when faced with adversity and disappointment, the Outdoor Education team chose to be adaptable and adventurous and bring the program to the Spring Hill campus Taking advantage of a small window when they were able to reach the Marrapatta campus and collect supplies, the staff packed up their specialist gear, studied maps, rewrote the program, and drove down to Brisbane to deliver ‘Marrapatta in the City’. The Year 8 Outdoor Education program, Navigate , expands on the Year 7 Connections program to build students’

top left Alice Yuill (8L), Annalise Hazzard (8O), Alexandra Stubbin (8B) and Mia Memisevic (8L) top right Mia Memisevic (8L), Annalise Hazzard (8O) and Elke Renshaw (8E) above left Year 8 students cooking dinner above centre Fiona Huang (8L) bike riding on the Teal Floor above right Grace Jackson (8M) While disappointed not to be able to deliver the Outdoor Education Program at the ‘heart’ of Marrapatta for all groups this year, we are fortunate to have natural spaces within easy reach of the Spring Hill campus where we can connect with each other and the world around us, reflect, and make memories Despite all the obstacles Semester 1 2022 presented us with, every student in Years 7 to 9 had the opportunity to participate in an Outdoor Education Program this year, which is a remarkable feat in the circumstances! We wish to acknowledge and thank all the staff at Marrapatta and Spring Hill who made the ‘Marrapatta in the City’ program possible, and also celebrate the students who displayed great resilience by accepting the disappointment of the change in venue, adapting to the last-minute changes, and taking risks by ‘having a go’ at a newly developed Outdoor Education experience ■

Gazette

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

11

Issue 2, 2022

Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator