Wilderness School

The world has much to offer the young woman whose education has enabled her to develop confidence in her abilities. Wilderness is a school dedicated to understanding and meeting the differing needs of girls and young women in each phase of their development from childhood through adolescence to young adulthood. Because we are a small school, every girl knows that she is an important part of our 'family'.

We are able to work with her, and with you, so that she can develop her full potential with a positive attitude to herself and to the joys and challenges life will hold for her. From her first day at school your daughter will be in an environment where she is valued for what she can offer as a person. She will know that achievement and leadership by women are natural and to be expected. To extend your understanding of how we work with parents and girls to achieve that end.

Our Mission is to enable every girl to be the best she can be throughout her life. Our Values are the following values guide every part of Wilderness School's culture, relationships, teaching and learning programs and practices. At Wilderness School we promote, enable and nurture:

• Compassionate, kind, friendly and hospitable girls who form and maintain healthy and fulfilling relationships.
• Responsible, respectful and generous global citizens and leaders, who act with integrity for a socially just world and a sustainable future for the Earth.
• Creative, independent and cooperative learners who seek excellence and success.
• Resilient, vibrant and spiritually aware girls, confident in themselves and appreciative of others.

The Wilderness School was established in 1884 by Miss Margaret Hamilton Brown. Her youngest sister, Mamie, then aged five, was considered too delicate to walk to the local State school and so it was decided that Mamie should be educated at home by Margaret, a trained teacher.

The school opened in their home on Mann Terrace, North Adelaide, with three girls and a boy as pupils. In 1885 the school moved to a site on Northcote Terrace, north of its present site, and in 1893, having outgrown that building, moved again to its present location at 30 Northcote Terrace, Medindie. Both boys and girls attended, although boys left when they turned eight or nine and were old enough to attend boys' private schools. Originally only kindergarten and primary classes were offered, but as the students progressed through the school, the higher levels were offered.

Girls' schools are ideally positioned to educate, inspire and nurture the girls of today, who will be the leaders of tomorrow. While in coeducational schools, girls have to compete for attention and leadership positions with boys; in single-sex schools every girl has a voice. Curriculums are tailored for girls, who are given opportunities to develop and excel. Girls in single-sex schools can captain the debating team, choose to study physics or be part of a rowing team. Girls' schools are specialists in girls' education. Highlighted below are some of the many benefits of choosing a single-sex school for your daughter.

Wilderness School is grounded in values of a non-denominational Christian family tradition. At Wilderness we are committed to being true to the vision of the founders, the Misses Brown, and are guided by their motto 'Semper Verus', "Always True". They founded this school on their belief in the need for unlimited kindness in relationships, joy in learning and academic adventure, a spirit of humility and the balance between seeking individual excellence and success and generous service to the community. These values still guide every part of Wilderness School's culture, relationships, teaching and learning programs and practices.

We are dedicated to providing a firm foundation and inspiration for a challenging, demanding and fulfilling life in which each individual can discover and develop her gifts, find inner balance, make true friends and be enabled to contribute to and act for the common good.