Moving on with Aerie College low cost adventures.

Parents cannot change the Large Government High Schools because they are required to enrol all children, including the nasty ones. 

HOWEVER, PARENTS CAN CHANGE THEIR CHILD'S SCHOOL.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS CAN ACCEPT OR REFUSE ENROLMENT APPLICATIONS.  This is why we require the "Time Out" enrolment, subject to confirmation after the 10 week assessment program. In rare events the Aerie adventure learning program may not be a good fit for the child or Aerie College. Disability is not likely to be a reason for non enrolment. They will always be with their team of students who will be trained to help if needed. As a special assistance school, Extra finance is available for special needs assistance. The stay or leave decision is between the parents and the principal. Family participation in the Aerie College events is very important for the child's education.

If after "time out" the  decision is stay, families will be encouraged to become active community members, visiting the resources of the college marina resort and the boats on every possibility. We will make it very clear that the teachers have control of the activities of the students. Parents are welcome to participate but not interfere. Principal is always happy to talk with parents, but it is not fair to the teachers to have parents interfering.

Private Boarding school for senior high years, 15+ has been a tradition for many families. 

• Wise parents recognise Fledging time, letting go, is essential for youth. cut the branch story 
• Some parents encourage the GAP Year after completion of high school
• Some disrupted teens, the ones Aerie can help most, need this "Time out" earlier in their school life to change their flight path.  cut the branch

Aerie College provides "Fledging Time" for families with school age teens who want, or need, time out. (Both school and or home). Many older teens take the Gap year after high school for the same reasons. They want to find their own flightpath.

Some nations make this older teen fledging time "Compulsory National Service" doing a wide range of community services, not just National defence, ( eg Sweden where every child must do nation service in a wide range of community service fields.)

The essential SACE subjects continue within Aerie College "TIME OUT" Cruise:- English, Maths,  Activating Identities and Futures (AIF), Research project. New Aerie subjects are continuous though Aerie years:- Personal Log, Cookery, Outdoor Recreation, Boat License, Life saving, First aid, Boat water rescue, etc.

Aerie College "Time Out," is a complete change of lifestyle, designed to to reset teen's mental health. - - - Get them out of their unhappy schools, even their family home, for a while to let it all calm down. We use a 10 week "Time Out" River cruise to change their lifestyle, smooth their feathers, and put them back on track for a happy productive future.  Parents with boats can tag along and join in with us when appropriate. The kids stay on "TS Aerie" for the full time learning program. We welcome parent help but not interference. Aerie teachers are skilled in working with both eaglets, and doves.

Children who push the limits are the potential dropouts or school refusers - - - some are very clever. These are the wild young birds who want their life to be different. - - - When children push the limits in a busy family, they cause:

• CONFLICT at home and school
• ANGER in the wild children, the Eaglets.  
• DEPRESSION in the compliant ones, the Squabs. 

Sometimes, the brilliant child who can do no wrong needs a push  "Mummy's spoilt child",  

•  The beautiful "Sleeper" - COMPLIANT, head down, not doing the hard learning. - - Can fly but refuses = too comfortable. 

PUSH THEM OUT OF YOUR NEST to Aerie College. - - Child Anger? - - - Perhaps, but the change will give them an essential life lesson.

YES. The law says they must attend SCHOOL to age 17.  

How good is their school?  The most important result for every child from schooling is happy confidence. 

Is your child gaining happy confidence at their school? 

If they are miserable and hide in their room, get them out of their existing school before they take the unthinkable step of suicide. . cut the branch for them 

Strong children who push the limits because they are unhappy, cause conflict within their unsuitable schools. 

Many parents force them to go to those local schools because the law says they must go to school and it is mostly free.

War is declared. 

Adults and school have the stronger hand. 

These teens fall into depression because they do not hold the power = depression = withdrawal = = suicide? cut the branch for them 

• Most existing School classrooms create "chicken shed" conflict - The angry and depressed little birds want to escape the cage, school or home, for many reasons, mostly through bullying, by both parents, other students and sometimes incompetent teachers who have lost control of the class.
• Free range chicken produce better eggs.
• Some wild young chicks jump out their nest too soon to test their wings, create rumpus and sometimes crash. -They need gentle pickup.
• The quiet doves, the squabs, are unable to see the way out, enter depression and think of suicide.  . cut the branch for them 

The large State Schools dropout rate is currently 24% and increasing. 

The unhappy children are unable to cope in the chicken shed and need to change. These schools are too large and not nimble. Government policy is making it worse with larger numbers in high school factories. YES they keep the costs down, BUT at what risk to our children?

Government sees an economic future in defence spending, building weapons of war (Nuclear Submarines) and pushes the large schools to train good engineering worker fodder - STEM subjects. 

Is this a good future for every child?    We still need  care workers, doctors, nurses, educators, musicians and dancers. Perhaps these are your child's future?

Some kids think different BUT are unable to change within the family home. They take the depression/suicide track. --- they can see no other options. cut the branch for them   THEY WILL FLY WITH Aerie College.

Time is critical for your teens. Their growth cannot stay and wait. Aerie College can change their mental health in our "time out" program.

CHANGE to Aerie College. Small and nimble teams, can be the change your child needs - - - cut the branch 

Aerie Residential College is a safe refuge, in wilderness, away from the stressors,  on the river Murray, swag camp cruising and kayaking, with skilled outdoor teachers maintaining the curriculum requirements and providing time for many chats to help the disrupted teens reset their flight path. 

The Aerie College free range chickens, away from the large school chicken shed, are much happier, more productive and produce better results. - - - They will return to family as competent young adults. 

Aerie College Community encourages parents to join community and enjoy the wilderness with their young ones when they have time.

The river has a calming effect. We focus on water safety including swimming, life jackets and water rescue skills. CPR and first aid skills are essential. We use a fast safety escort  boat for all kayaking events and residential school ships as home base for swag camping, catering and cruising' This provides a safe reset and rest time to preen their wings.

Aerie can help the family and the teachers  cut the branch 

• School Teacher action:- recommend students to Aerie College for help  (teachers find help for their problem student and relieves their classroom disruption.) Teachers, you are welcome to spend some time with us when you can. Many teachers are walking away from state schools. Those who stay just hold the discipline not much learning excitement, and take their salary.  The old hands who loved teaching now find it too difficult and also hit depression. We welcome those teachers to come and teach with us, according to their own lights. All learning is good for our students.
• Parent action:-  ask your child's teacher to nominate your child to Aerie College for help  (parents help their child to escape to a better future away from their school agony,  AND stops parent/child conflict- - - - teachers will know if your child is having problems that are too difficult for them to resolve. In State schools, teachers must take all children including the bad ones into their class in public schools.

Parents are welcome to tag along in their own boat for part or all of the 10 week "Time Out" cruise. They can join in with activities but must play to the Aerie College rules. At any time they can take their child and leave. Time out is a come and try school camp event, not an enrolment in Aerie College. Principal, Capt. Bouc will be with the time out cruise for most of the time. Chat is always welcome.

AT THE END OF TIME OUT CRUISE- - - - Aerie Principal, Capt. Bouc, student and family meet to make a decision. 

• Stay with Aerie Collegiate Community - - - for the long haul towards VET Diploma
• Or leave - - -  decision is parent choice before age 18 years.

THINKING ABOUT HOLDING FAMILY TOGETHER

Parents, when was the last time you took time out to take a good look at your family lifestyle?  

If there a fight going on GET THE KIDS OUT - - - It is not their fight.

• Aerie Community can look after them. We teach the years 11 & 12 BUT
• The younger ones can live on the resort under our care and attend the Mannum Community College. Child care is part of the curriculum for older students. On campus they become the carers of the young ones under our staff supervision.

Your kids will return to you when the storm is over. Give them "time out" while you sort out your mess. 

They will be different when they return and will expect different.

Principal Bouc. 0418 836 137