Alice Sloan Leadership Program

The ‘Alice Sloan Leadership Program’ is designed for young women to extend themselves and develop self-esteem and life skills such as teamwork, respect, courage and leadership.

The Alice Sloan Trust was established in honour of Alice Sloan who lost her life at the age of 16. The Trust and Alexandra Secondary College, in conjunction with the Outdoor Education Group, offer up to ten females the opportunity to participate in an extended outdoor expedition within the Lake Eildon National Park and surrounds. The expedition which involves travel by foot, canoe and bike takes place in January.

During the year of the expedition, participants contribute to the aims of the Trust through the Leadership Program. This will include fully participating in the group, challenging themselves with new experiences, taking on leadership roles, public speaking, mentoring younger students and assisting with fundraising efforts in the school and local community.

Applications are open to females in Year 10 to undertake the program during Year 11. For more information contact Bron Howell.

School for Student Leadership Program

The School for Student Leadership (SSL) program is an initiative of the Department of Education and Training. It involves Year 9 students from Victorian government schools living for a term at one of their three campuses located around Victoria. The campuses are: The Alpine School (TAS) at Dinner Pain near Mount Hotham in Victoria’s North-East, the Snowy River Campus (SRC) at Marlo in East Gippsland, and Gnurad-Gundidj near Glenormiston in the Western District.

Whilst on this program, students learn an array of skills through participation in a diversity of activities presented in a non-traditional classroom setting. The curriculum focuses on personal development and team learning projects sourced from the students’ home regions. The program changes weekly with one day of rest scheduled per seven day cycle. Typical activities include: bushwalking, rafting, mountain biking, caving, surfing and photography.

Activities do vary depending on the season and the campus.

Each year the College submits an application to participate on this program. Selection is not guaranteed; however, as there are many more schools applying for positions than there are positions available. We have been most fortunate to have been accepted into this program for the past six consecutive years.

Information about this program can most easily be accessed via the SSL’s website at http://www.alpineschool.vic.edu.au/. Alternatively, queries can be directed to Jacki Tossol at the College.

Y-Lead

Y-Lead is a three-day residential personal growth and leadership development conference held in January of each year at the University of Melbourne. It targets senior students with a leadership role. Each year we sponsor our four College Captains to take part in this conference.

Our overarching goal in supporting our students to attend this program is to empower our senior students to be positive leaders.

It is our aim that our students return from the conference:

• Empowered with the understanding that leadership is not defined by a badge, but by the actions that create their legacy
• United as a cohort
• Motivated to make a difference in their school & community
• Prepared with essential skills & tools to effectively lead

Students attending Y-Lead are supported to develop an initiative to implement at the College on their return. The goal of this year’s cohort is, ´Getting everyone at ASC to be more friendly and accepting of everyone and anyone, and also to become more open about our feelings. We want to prove that anyone can lead; and that literally anyone can become a leader, even if they thought it was impossible”.

Further information about the Y-Lead program can be found at http://ylead.com.au/experiences/secondary-school/.

‘Young Men, Old Mountains’

‘Young Men Old Mountains’ provides opportunities for young men to challenge themselves, both physically and emotionally, to discover greater self-awareness, build self-esteem and resilience, and develop stronger relationships at home, school and in the local community.

Developed in partnership with the Outdoor Education Group (OEG), the senior ‘Young Men Old Mountains’ expedition is a ten day journey for up to ten boys from Year 10. The journey is in the Mt Stirling/Mt Howitt region of the Alpine National Park. Sections of the Great Alpine Walking Track around Mt Speculation and Mt Howitt and the purpose built mountain bike trails on Mt Stirling are also utilised. This region provides the perfect environment to challenge and inspire young men. They will experience hiking and cycling in one of the most stunning areas of the Victorian High Country.

Following the expedition, participants have the opportunity to mentor Grade 6 students from Cluster primary schools on a junior ‘Young Men Old Mountains’ program.