Winter Academy
The Year 9 Winter Academy is a three-week residential learning and wellbeing experience held at our Tallong Campus in the Southern Highlands. Designed to extend students beyond the traditional classroom, the program offers a dynamic mix of academic enrichment, outdoor adventure and life skills development.
This optional opportunity is available to all Year 9 students and is designed to nurture independence, leadership and resilience in a supportive, immersive setting.
In 2026, from 21 July to 9 August, the inaugural program is centred on the theme ‘Treading Lightly’. Students will explore sustainability locally through industry partnerships with Boral (quarry, concrete and recycling), visit a sustainable farm, and engage with Landcare Goulburn. Fieldwork will include water sampling, soil studies, vegetation surveys and data collection using weather stations.
As the students investigate ‘Treading Lightly’ they will gain understanding of how communities, industries and ecosystems interact – and how thoughtful choices can reduce our impact.
Academic Focus
From Monday to Thursday, academic enquiry, daily wellbeing sessions and fieldwork will take place. Interdisciplinary enquiry programs linking Science and Geography will allow students to choose, explore and challenge themselves – developing independence, leadership and resilience while learning in the environment, not just about it.
English and Maths will take place via online connection with classrooms at Santa Sabina but devices will be firmly put away outside of lesson time. PDHPE theory and practice will be integrated into the outdoor program.
Weekend Outdoor Program
From Friday to Sunday, Outdoor Education weekends will take students canoeing in Kangaroo Valley, hiking in Bungonia, and caving in Wombeyan Caves, building resilience and leadership in unique environments.
According to our Director of Studies Lauren Imber, this is more than a program. ‘It’s living learning – engaging with real places, real people and real challenges’, she says.
The Academy culminates in a parent showcase at Tallong, where students present projects inspired by their guided enquiry work. Parents will also join the students in a liturgy and lunch.
This Exciting Adventure Will Give our Year 9 Students
- Academic enrichment
- Wellbeing and personal development
- Life skills, independence and leadership.
The Academy asks our girls to think differently, act responsibly and lead with courage.