Finding a place in a community is important, and the sense of belonging experienced within the Carey community is a defining aspect of this school. We have seen this through coming back together post-COVID and having a year of offering our full program after two years of disruption; we have seen it through the community spirit experienced in the many centenary events for our school this year; and, of course, we have seen it throughout the many special programs we have at Carey that make our students’ time at the School so unique.
At Carey, our sense of community has allowed the opportunity to explicitly enhance each student’s capacity to collaborate, connect and communicate. The avenues at Carey to rediscover community life have been made evident to me across all school sections in recent weeks.
To commence the term, I spent 10 days with a group of 16 Year 10 students who had opted to complete the 20-day Carey Zero program based in Far North Queensland. Whilst the Great Barrier Reef and pristine landscapes with waterfalls became the backyard for the trip, the overwhelming observation from students was that the strength of the program is that phones are left behind and they can disconnect from technology, the result being a healthy connection with each other. Their sense of community was given an opportunity to thrive.
I then had the opportunity to join the Donvale Bush Kinder last week (feature image). They too found the outdoor environment a natural place for connecting. The students, ready for action in their gumboots, climbed trees, moved rocks, built hideouts and took me back to my childhood as they invited me to play What’s the time Mr Wolf?. Again, community was tangible.
In the upcoming holidays I will spend seven days with a group of Year 8 and 9 students in Darwin as part of the football program. I know there is a rich program of sport as part of the itinerary, including games in Jabiru with local students. However, I am sure, like the Donvale ELC students and the Year 10 Zero adventurers, that it will be the opportunity to build their own sense of the Carey community that will resonate most powerfully.
Peter Robson
Deputy Principal – Wellbeing
