Small school, BIG Opportunities
Alphington Grammar School’s Gateways program provides, in a practical way, students with a deeper cross-cultural understanding of the world in which they live to help shape them into active global citizens.
As part of our mission to develop students into well-rounded and world ready individuals, Alphington Grammar School introduced our flagship Gateways program in 2014. The Gateways Program for Years 9 and 10 students was designed along major interconnected themes to provide truly effective international education. Students travel with their teachers and peers to study firsthand the diversity of ethnicities and their contribution to identity in the Northern Territory or internationally, to develop critical thinking skills, independence, and a global mindset.
Due to the impacts of the pandemic in recent years, students have only been able to travel within Australia. Last year the Year 9 and 10 students experienced the Northern Territory for 10 days. The Year 9s spent some time in Adelaide before exploring the opal mine and underground living conditions in Cooper Pedy. Other locations on the list included traveling to Alice Springs and visiting MacDonnell Ranges, Ormiston Gorge, Kings Canyon and Uluru. Meanwhile, the Year 10 students headed further north to the very top end of the country, Darwin, where they experienced places like Litchfield Park, Kakadu, Katherine, Nitmiluk, Cutta Cutta Caves and the Mt Bundy Station.
All students had the opportunity to encounter breathtaking waterfalls, spectacular hikes and local wildlife. They also learnt a tremendous amount about indigenous culture, their connection to the land and their way of life.
This year will once more open up the international option to travel overseas. The extremely high uptake of this option amongst students is testimony to their enthusiasm and the popularity of the program. In 2023, Alphington Grammar will be sending two groups of students on the international experience, totalling over 100 students and staff, and one group of 25 students will undertake the Australian experience.
The four-week international itinerary includes a study of the culture, lifestyles, economy, and environments of London, Rome, Sicily, and Greece, and a trek through the Samariá Gorge in Crete. The Australian program will take place in the NT to places such as Darwin, Kakadu and Litchfield National Park. Through immersion within these culturally diverse communities, students will increase their awareness of political, economic, legal, national, and international issues, as well as their role within them as global citizens, as they begin to consider their future pathways.
“Our Gateways program is one of the most memorable and profound educational experiences our students will undertake in their school journey,” said Principal Dr Vivianne Nikou. “It remains one of the highlights of secondary school and has far reaching implications on the development of a growth mindset, a much-needed asset for employability in the 21st century.”
Experience the Alphington Difference
Come along and visit our Campus and meet our students and staff at our Open Day, Saturday 4 March, 10AM to 1PM.
Explore our grounds and get a feel for our school community and culture. Our Open Day invites you inside our gates to see if Alphington Grammar is a fit for you and your child. With teachers and students on campus, open-access to our classrooms and learning spaces, and student work and art on display, don’t miss out on this chance to immerse yourself in the Alphington experience for a day.
Register your place now at: alphington.vic.edu.au
Alphington Grammar School is located on five hectares of beautiful parklands and sports ovals by the banks of the Darebin […]