March 15 – 17 saw all Year 12 Outdoor Education and Environmental Studies undertake their first camp for the year at Portsea. The purpose of camp was to allow students to investigate relationships with marine and coastal environments.
Day 1, the tides, and the wind were in our favor, so we jumped into sea kayaks and followed the coastline for 8km from Sorrento to the Quarantine Station at Point Nepean. Day 2, we learned to scuba dive. We spent the morning in a specially designed pool with our instructors to learn the basics. We learned how to clear and retrieve our breathing regulator, how to achieve neutral bouncy and how to clear your mask if it filled with water. In the afternoon we dived at Blairgowrie pier. This location is known for its colourful sponges and ascidians, sea horses, pygmy leatherjackets, mosaic leatherjackets, angler fish, globe fish, biscuit stars, eleven-armed sea stars, blue ringed octopus, anemone cones, decorator crabs, star gazers and delicate colourful nudibranchs. Day 3 we stayed on land. We took to cruiser bikes and were guided around Point Nepean where we learned about the history of early settlement in the area and the defence of Victoria. We visited military forts and tunnels and viewed the memorial where Prime Minister Harold Holt went missing.
Our next adventure will be a canoe expedition along the Murray River in May.
Darren was appointed Principal of Sacred Heart College in January 2019. Darren has had almost 30 years experience in teaching and leadership across a number of Victorian Catholic secondary schools. These include eight years as Principal of Mercy Regional College, Camperdown; nine years as Deputy Principal and Director of Mission at Mount Lilydale Mercy College; seven years as a Chemistry, Religious Education and Science teacher as well as REC at Sacred Heart College, Geelong.
Darren has been committed to a lifetime of study and professional development. After completing his initial degree of Bachelor of Science and Graduate Diploma of Education at the University of Melbourne, he continued his study by completing a Graduate Diploma of Religious Education, a Masters of Religious Education and a Doctor of Education, all at Australian Catholic University. In 2018, Darren participated in the Enhancing Catholic School Identity programme in Leuven, Belgium.
Darren has a deep and passionate affiliation with the Mercy tradition and charism and believes that Mercy schools must be “…committed to holistic education; determined to ensure that each student flourishes academically, spiritually, emotionally, socially and physically”.
The purpose of the Catholic school is to provide “… an authentic Christian education, where students are called to embrace the essence of the Gospels, to flourish as whole human persons” and “… to provide exemplary learning experiences for the students who attend”.
Darren was appointed Principal of Sacred Heart College in January 2019. Darren has had almost 30 years experience in teaching and leadership across a number of Victorian Catholic secondary schools. These include eight years as Principal of Mercy Regional College, Camperdown; nine years as Deputy Principal and Director of Mission at Mount Lilydale Mercy College; seven years as a Chemistry, Religious Education and Science teacher as well as REC at Sacred Heart College, Geelong.
Darren has been committed to a lifetime of study and professional development. After completing his initial degree of Bachelor of Science and Graduate Diploma of Education at the University of Melbourne, he continued his study by completing a Graduate Diploma of Religious Education, a Masters of Religious Education and a Doctor of Education, all at Australian Catholic University. In 2018, Darren participated in the Enhancing Catholic School Identity programme in Leuven, Belgium.
Darren has a deep and passionate affiliation with the Mercy tradition and charism and believes that Mercy schools must be “…committed to holistic education; determined to ensure that each student flourishes academically, spiritually, emotionally, socially and physically”.
The purpose of the Catholic school is to provide “… an authentic Christian education, where students are called to embrace the essence of the Gospels, to flourish as whole human persons” and “… to provide exemplary learning experiences for the students who attend”.