2022 SSL - Alpine School Program Key Dates

NOTE: Public Holiday considerations: Labour Day 14 March, Queens Birthday 13 June, Cup Day 1 November. Lieu days 16, 19, 20 December 2022

Expressions of Interest close last week of term 2 in the year prior to the program.
Notification will be given in term 3 of the year prior to the program.
Community Information evening conducted as time and local requirements dictate in the term prior to program.

2023 SSL - Snowy River Campus Program Key Dates

NOTE: Public Holiday considerations in 2023: Labour Day 13 March, Queens Birthday 12 June, Cup Day 7 November. Lieu days 18, 19, 20 December.
Lieu days 18, 19, 20 December. Additional work/program required 11-15 December

Expressions of Interest close last week of term 2 in the year prior to the program.
Notification will be given in term 3 of the year prior to the program.
Community Information evening conducted as time and local requirements dictate in the term prior to program.

{Dates Current as of 7 December 2022}

Third Letter Home to Parents - Pre Visiting Weekend

Hello again from the community of the Alpine School Campus!

What a busy term we have had already. A mixture of sunshine, fog, rain, snow and cool winds has certainly made our expeditions interesting. Some expedition groups have headed-out and hence have returned already. They donned backpacks and wet weather gear, making their way out to camp at Biathlon and JB Hut for a night before returning to school. The students were well prepared and full of excitement, apprehension, readiness, and worry, all mixed into one! We know, however, that what they will learn through their undertaking and this experience will put them in great stead. One of the concepts we use in designing our type of educational experience is to move from the known to the unknown. In moving to, and living at, the Alpine School Campus, students initially are in an unknown environment (socially, physically, emotionally, geographically, and so on), which they soon become comfortable and familiar with. It is a very deliberate part of the process of learning both leadership skills and to be enterprising.

***VISITING WEEKEND***

The visiting weekend is this coming weekend by the time you receive this, and we look forward to seeing you again. Can we stress that it is a family occasion, for parents’ benefit, and should be limited to immediate family members?

Pick-up time is from 9am on Saturday Nov 12, and the latest return time is Sunday Nov 13th by 4pm. *We do ask that you return with your son or daughter and be departed by 4pm.

NOTE - Some families may wish to leave earlier on the Sunday, due to lengthy travel involved or family commitments. The school will be staffed from midday on the Sunday. If any families are unable to attend, or wish to seek alternative arrangements, please let us know as soon as possible and we may be able to assist.

We look forward to seeing you on the visiting weekend and remember to check the Alpine Weather forecast prior to heading up anddrive safely.
- Alpine Forecast: http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/mounthotham.shtml

With every good wish on behalf of the Alpine School Team

• THIRD LETTER | 11 Nov 2022
  READ the Full Letter: OPEN PDF

SNAPSHOT: Second Letter Home from The Alpine School Campus (Altitude 1600m), 18 Oct 2022

Welcome again to the community of the Alpine School Campus. The time has flown by and we are pleased with how things are progressing at our school. The purpose of these letters is to provide you with a perspective of the intended program here at the Alpine School. We will not be writing about individuals, more about the experiences of the community as a whole.

Homesickness can be a normal emotion experienced and at this time within the program, although it does tend to diminish. If you think that your son or daughter is still unreasonably homesick, do call us and we can compare notes, so to speak. None of us can really predict how this anxiety may manifest itself. Our staff members really do make a priority of ensuring students’ wellbeing during these first, more unsettled weeks. Moreover, how are you coping with being “son or daughter sick”?

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Students will be heading out over the coming weeks on their overnight expeditions, carrying their backpacks and all their alpine camping gear. We start locally with an overnight expedition, and after the visiting weekend, we head out on a more ambitious expedition. Please be reassured that all expedition routes are reviewed for safety and access and modifications made as deemed necessary, to ensure that the safety of your sons/daughters remains as paramount.

• READ THE SECOND LETTER: Letter 2: 18 Oct 2022