Term 1 Highlights

The Stella Maris College Duke of Edinburgh program has had an incredibly busy and exciting start to 2026, with three major Adventurous Journeys already completed this term. We began with our Gold Tasmania trip, where students were challenged by new environments, teamwork, and heatwave temperatures to display great independence in a truly spectacular setting. This was followed by the Kangaroo Valley canoe and hike, which tested resilience, navigation skills, and group cooperation both on the water and on the trail. Currently, 32 of our students are in Mt Kosciuszko National Park completing their Silver Adventurous Journey in the Snowy Mountains. These experiences continue to build confidence, resilience, and strong friendships, and it has been wonderful to see the girls support and encourage one another through each challenge.

A big thank you to our Gold Award students who generously assisted at the Year 7 Camp earlier this term. Your leadership, initiative, and care for the younger students were outstanding and very much appreciated. We also acknowledge our Year 11 students who have started a crochet group with our new Year 9 Bronze students, creating beautiful blankets for new mothers in Timor Leste — a wonderful example of service and community in action. This term we have also welcomed a huge 127 new Year 9 students into the Bronze Award, and we are currently working through award plans and assessor forms as they prepare for their Pack and Paddle adventure next term. Finally, we are now collecting donations and prizes for the 2026 Cambodia Online Auction, which will open early next term. Please see Holly or Ms Silburn if you are able to contribute a prize or support this important fundraiser.

At the close of every adventurous journey we ask the girls to communicate their 'highlight, lowlight, spotlight' as a way of reflecting and learning from our experiences. Here are some Term 1 student responses:

Highlight:

'A highlight of the journey was getting closer to my friends and people I've never spoken to. I also loved how even though it rained, it didn’t stop us from having the best time ever.'

'The company!! It was amazing spending time with my friends, as well as our amazing group leaders and teachers.'

'The energy and adrenaline of the group pulling together to get camp set up in the pouring rain, racing against the clock.'

Lowlight:

'My lowlight was how physically challenging the canoeing was. After Saturday and canoeing for 14km for two days straight my arms were so tired'

'A lowlight was the weather but that was something we couldn't change so we decided to embrace it rather then dwell on it.'

'Having to get on the plane because I wanted to stay in Tasmania.'

Spotlight:

'Mr Nic brought the spirits up throughout the trip - had lots of good laughs, and he never failed to make a dad joke whenever the opportunity would arise.'

'Ms Kelly was so fun to be around and uplifting. She was joining in with us students as well as also acting as a supportive figure.'

'To all the staff, girls and Henry the possum who went on Three Capes Hike, you were all so much fun.'

Thank you also to Lola W who made the following video of the January Tassie Gold journey.