The Abbotsleigh Applied Learning Experience provides Year 10 students with the opportunity to participate in a student-directed team project in an area of curriculum relevance and personal interest. Based on experiential learning principles all projects are purpose driven and rely on student problem solving, team work and initiative.
Each project includes an element of service to the community, and allows students to apply knowledge in a real world situation.
The students are given the opportunity to design their own project as well as to build on projects that students have undertaken in the past. Some of these projects have included:
Choreographing and hosting the end of year musical for St Edmund’s School, Wahroonga
Running a learn to swim program and cultural exchange with students from Holroyd High School
Developing sensory gardens and murals for Anglicare Aged Care facilities
Building a house with Habitat for Humanity
Visiting and working with the students at St Joseph’s School, Walgett
Bush regeneration in Royal National Park
Girls find the experience very rewarding and their reflections have included:
‘It was such an amazing time period, in which we (as a group and individually) were able to have some independence, use initiative and help people.’
‘It felt really good to help other people in the community and to allow the kids to shine on stage at the concert. Working as a team through the week to accomplish a task was very rewarding.’
‘The act of stepping out into a diverse and different community was great: stretching personal limits and experiencing things that create a more understanding image of our world and the problems, as well as understanding the subtle differences apparent in different cultures.’