Our Duke of Edinburgh Golden Girls
Published November 29, 2021
2021 has been another golden year for St Cuthbert’s with nine of our girls in Years 12 and 13, receiving the prestigious The Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award at the time of publication.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a global education framework, challenging young people from 14 – 24 to dream big and discover their potential. By creating opportunities for students to learn a new skill (or develop an existing one), get physically active, give service to their communities, and take part in an adventure, the Award challenges students to leave their comfort zones—as that’s when the good stuff happens! This in turn helps students build self-confidence, greater resilience, and sets them up for success.
Students design their own Award programmes, set their own goals, and record their own progress. The only person they compete against is themselves, by challenging their own beliefs about what they can achieve. Gold is the third and final level of the Award, which takes a minimum of 12 months to complete. Students can use their existing day to day extra curriculum activities towards the Duke of Edinburgh activities. The Award is comprised of three levels and four sections – Skills, Voluntary Service, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey. Participants complete all four sections as each level to achieve their Award. At Gold level, participants also complete a Residential component.
Congratulations to the following girls who have achieved Gold:
- Sophia Owen (Year 12):
- Pippa Dixon (Year 12)
- Renee Findlay (Year 12)
- Sarah Lock (Year 12)
- Charlotte Marvin (Year 13)
- Lexi (Alexandria) Butler (Year 13)
- Isabel Allen (Year 13)
- Jessie Lin (Year 13)
- Jennifer Wu (Year 13)
Award Leader for St Cuthbert’s Duke of Edinburgh Helen Fraser assists our girls in achieving their goals. Helen says:
“I believe that not all learning happens in the classroom. Getting involved in the Award is a personal challenge and not a competition against others; it pushes the girls to their personal limits and recognises their individual strengths. With aspects of the Award being work through in groups, the girls are also expanding their friendships.
“Having your Duke of Ed Award looks great on tertiary study applications, scholarships, CVs and resumes. The Award shows commitment and achievement, as well as dedication to a variety of activities. It also gives our students the opportunity to talk about themselves and their passions outside of the classroom.”