Parent Letters & Bulletins

Fourth Letter Home to parents - Sunday September 3rd, 2017

Hello again! We trust you all enjoyed the visiting weekend a week or so back, despite the long distances involved for many of you? The weekend was for you. We have heard many varied and mixed reports from your sons and daughters about the weekend, but more good than otherwise, which is totally normal! Some said, “It was great to see my family, but I couldn’t wait to get back to the Alpine School!” You need to be assured that the time of real settlement at the Alpine School Campus is now happening for your son or daughter. Paradoxically, the time of departure is also rapidly approaching. I am sure you will notice the difference in your son or daughter between the recent visit and the conclusion on Saturday September 23rd.

Third Letter Home to Parents - Pre Parent Visiting Weekend Monday 21 August 2017

Hello again from the community of the Alpine School Campus!

What a busy term we have had already. The ‘Blizzard of Oz’ has certainly set up the rest of the snow season, we should have no issues with a lack of snow for our ski days and expeditions. But with an Australian snow season, you never know what is around the corner. After the heavy snow we had beautiful sunshine for the first expeditions in week 3 and then rain for the groups in week 4. They donned backpacks and made their way out to make their way to a camping location known as JB Plain for a night of camping, before returning back to school. The students were well prepared and so full of excitement, apprehension, “coolness” and worry, all mixed into one! We know, however, that what they will learn through their undertaking 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 times are between 9.00am and midday on Saturday August 26th, and join us for a cup of tea or coffee on Sunday August 27th between 3pm and 4pm..

We ask that you return with your son or daughter by 3pm and depart by 4pm. Some families may wish to arrive and leave earlier due to the 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.

The Alpine School experience is ultimately a very personal one for parents and guardians, students and families and each experience is slightly different. We thank you for being a part of our community. We look forward to seeing you on the visiting weekend and remember to check the Alpine Weather forecast, drive safely and carry vehicle chains if required to do so.

Tuesday August 8th, 2017
Letter from the Alpine School Campus (Altitude 1600m).

Welcome again to the community of the Alpine School Campus. Congratulations again on the achievement of being personally, as a team, as a family and as a school selected to participate in this Alpine School experience. The purpose of these letters is to provide you a perspective of the intended program here at the Alpine School. What your son or daughter experiences, and then of course what they may communicate to you, may vary! This is quite normal! We will not be writing about individuals, more about the experiences of the community as a whole.

It seems amazing that a few weeks have passed already. As we indicate to your son or daughter, the time here seems to pass at an accelerating pace. I think it is something to do with the familiarization of the living situation here. And familiar they certainly seem to be! I am very pleased at how readily our students this term have settled-in..

Parents/ Guardians visiting weekend is approaching and this time is specifically a weekend about you as a family and about your relationship to your son/daughter, and is an integral part of the whole Alpine School separation and reintegration process. Give them your undivided attention and take the interest in their experience here and their return and reintegration over the Winter period will be so much better for all of you. If you are not able to make the visiting weekend of Saturday August 26 and Sunday August 27, or would like to talk to us about any of the matters raised, please do not hesitate to do so.

Sunday 23rd July 2017

Welcome to the community of the Alpine School Campus for our Term 2, NINE week program.

During the next nine weeks we shall be writing to you several times. These letters will also be posted on our website for you to see and read about current and daily events. The content of the communications is to assist you with your side of the Alpine School Campus Experience. The letters will not necessarily deal with individuals and their achievements, but more about the living and learning process all students will be undertaking. We want to provide you with some early reminders and information for your arrival day and to perhaps help you on your return and continued journey.

Alpine School Fleece Jumpers.

While here with us at the Alpine School Campus, your sons and daughters have been issued with a whole range of quality outdoor equipment and clothing for their use throughout the term.

Students are often interested in purchasing some of this gear as a souvenir of their stay at the Alpine School, so each term we give students, and parents, an opportunity to purchase their fleece jumper. There is certainly no obligation to do so; however the opportunity is there for those who may be interested.

The fleece jumpers are high quality Polartec manufactured by a leading outdoor brand, MONT Equipment. The jumper that the students are issued with at the start of the term is the jumper that they will have the opportunity to purchase; therefore it will be a used. We offer the jumper at a reduced price of $85 which is far less than the retail price of the jumpers.

We currently have limited stock and students will not be able to purchase size medium.

If you are interested please fill out the form made available and return it to school with a cheque or money order. Please make out cheques to ‘The Alpine School’. The jumpers will then be able to be taken home with your child on departure day. If it suites you to pay in person, with cash, then you can do this on the departure day.

Yours sincerely,
Toby Hill
Outdoor Clothing Co-ordinator (Term 1 2017)