Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

As we dive into a new year with, hopefully, a more normal life on the horizon, I’d like to welcome all the girls back this year and wish everyone success and forward progress. The Duke of Edinburgh Award navigated some strange tides last year, causing some of the girls to fall behind, but at the moment we have favourable winds for steady progress, and are sailing powerfully.

This time last year we were reassuring everyone how mindful we were of the bushfire situation and the risks that go with trekking in those conditions – particularly smoke haze and compromised safety in affected forests: – how long ago those worries seem, replaced almost directly by the concerns of Covid-19. This year, with both of those risks greatly eased, we look forward to a smooth-running program, enabling everyone to achieve their goals and encounter new experiences in a happy and safe environment.

At the moment we are just starting our Expeditions for the new Bronze girls in Year 9, and I would like to outline a few points that will give everyone a better experience and chance of a good outcome:

Permission notes/Medical forms for the expedition are usually emailed directly to the girls, however if for one reason or another there is a problem, a generic Permission Note/Medical Form is available on the Duke of Edinburgh Award Cognito page, which can be used by any level student, for any hike. Permission notes are expected no later than the Wednesday prior to the expedition, handed in to the upstairs office of PDHPE. They are a legal document, so should be completed with care, and signed by both Parent/Guardian, and the student.
Prior to the expeditions, we run meetings for the girls concerned, usually in W5. Girls should receive emails giving notice of the meetings and are expected to attend. They provide essential information about the hike, including logistics, expected behaviours, potential difficulties, having a comfortable experience, and safety. As most expeditions are unique, the planning and requirements may be quite different from a previous hike.
Students “sign up” for their expeditions on Cognito, and sometimes because of limited spaces we need to employ a “first in line” policy; however generally all girls will be given sufficient opportunities through the year to complete two expeditions. When signing up for a hike, please be mindful that girls must make their own arrangements with sporting, musical, dramatic or other commitments – contact coaches/instructors as well as the SCEGGS staff overseeing those programs to make arrangements, should there be an overlap of schedules. Your commitment to the Award is not automatically a higher priority than Sport.
Finally, girls are required to return any equipment they have borrowed from the school within two days of their return from the hike – clean, dry and in good repair. If this cannot be done (sometimes rain can prevent drying of tents), please let me know as soon as possible, so that we can arrange for the next group to receive their equipment. Currently, we are in the midst of six weeks of back-to-back hikes, so the return of equipment is critical for a smooth-running program. Please note that tents should NEVER be washed in a machine, or with regular detergents or cleaners – it destroys the waterproofing and makes the tent worthless.

For girls continuing on to Silver or Gold, or those completing a Gold Award they started last year, remember to stay on top of your activities, and keep up to date with logging them – and also get those assessor signatures sooner rather than later. If you have questions or difficulties with your award, a quick review of the rules on-line, or a question to me (at school or by email) may save hours of wasted effort or missed opportunities.

Ms Joanne Bower & Mr Doric Swain
Duke of Edinburgh Award Coordinators