Choosing the right school for your child can feel overwhelming. You may be thinking about: Will my child feel safe and supported? Will they be challenged in the right ways? What sets one school apart from another? This August, the School of the Nativity welcomes you to join a Principal’s Tour as part of Catholic Schools Open Week where you can see how students interact, how teachers guide learning, and how the school day flows.

Starting school is a significant step for children and families. To better understand the experience from a child’s point of view, we spoke with two current Reception students at School of the Nativity.

The year 1982 was one of big thinking and big ideas. Steven Spielberg’s E.T was a worldwide hit in movie theatres, Advance Australia Fair replaced God Save The Queen as our national anthem, blue eyeshadow and shoulder pads were in and the controversial breakfast spread Vegemite, turned 60. So why the nostalgic recap? Well, there was another big thinking idea taking shape in Aberfoyle Park during this time, with the opening of a new schooling set up.

It happens in a moment. A student halfway up a rock face pauses, frozen by fear and doubt. Below, an instructor calmly encourages: “Take a breath, look around, and take the next step.” The student exhales, refocuses, and reaches the top—exhausted, but transformed. These quiet turning points—part challenge, part breakthrough—are common in outdoor education. And for students in the middle years of schooling, they’re more than just powerful memories. They’re moments of growth.