As the Year 10 and 11 students fly out for their immersion experience at Santa Teresa (ltyente Apurta) on Saturday we wish them well on their trip. These students have shown a willingness to take a risk, to go on an adventure, to live as a minority culture and to work to assist others. Our prayers and good wishes for a good and safe time go with them.
The group is lead by Ms Kate Howard and Mr. Paul Walker and consists of Zoe Levesque, Bridie Naughtin, Hazel Vaughan, Emily Hunt, Belle Culhane, Rebecca King, Des Flanagan and Frances Samon.
We are in the initial stages of preparing for 2012 and are looking at the possibility of having 3 immersion experiences.
Immersion 1 – Year 10, Santa Teresa – 8 students
Immersion 2 – Year 11, Madang, PNG – 8 students
Immersion 3 – Year 11, Lacluta, Timor Leste – 8 students

National Santa Teresa: Year 10 Ltyente Apurta is a well established program where students travel to Santa Teresa near Alice Springs and work in classes in the school during the week as well as in other community programs. They work with the Brothers in the Marist Community and live as a small Christian Community in the parish bungalow. It is restricted to 8 students and 2 adults in set dates in October 15th-21st (2011).

International: Two offerings, Year 11
Madang in PNG is an immersion program established in 2011 for up to 8 students and two teachers. The program involved visiting 3 – 4 schools in the Madang region guided by Dave and Marilynn Seiter (past principal).
Lacluta, Timor Leste, is a sister city to Wangaratta and Rotary Appin Park has a building and community support program in Lacluta to support this village. The immersion would involve the group of students visiting for a week in the July holidays.
OR Marist program based in Dili Timor Leste associated with Marist Teachers College.
Galen is fortunate to be able to offer these experiences, these are great opportunities for students but there are limited places. We always endeavor to minimize costs for students and families as we want the immersion experiences to be accessible to most, if not all.
If you are interested and would like to know more please email Mr. Jim Samon jim.samon@galen.vic.edu.au and/or Mr. Paul Maher paul.maher@galen.vic.edu.au