Introducing the LVS Award ° Autumn Term 2004

Introducing the LVS Award

In her Graduation address in June of 2004, Mrs Gaye Zund outlined that from the beginning of the new school year, St. George's would be running a new programme called the LVS Award. Responsible for organising and co-ordinating this new initiative is Mr Richard Lineham who, alongside being a teacher of Science, is a qualified teacher of Outdoor Education.

The LVS, similar in its design and purpose to the Duke of Edinburgh Awards in the UK aims to develop young people through a series of challenges in four areas:

	Developing a Skill
	Service to Others
	Physical Recreation
	Expedition

Over to Mr Lineham for an explanation of what potential LVS award participants need to do to obtain their award.

" You need to complete each section of the award during your time at St George’s. The school clubs, inter-house events and things that you do in your own time all count. The main restriction being that it must be you that take the initiative (not a member of staff)

Developing a skill – this can be anything you fancy from developing your existing skills in underwater basket weaving to trying something totally different like creating your own web page. You must show evidence of how your skill has developed e.g. If you chose public speaking you might want to do an assembly to show off your new skills.

Some more ideas; Canoe Building, Campanology, Aquarium Keeping, Money Management, Knitting, Taxidermy, Wine Making.

Service to Others – Here you spend some of your time helping others. You can use an existing skill that you already have or learn a new skill and then use that. You could be your class’s social services rep, lifeguard at the school pool or volunteer to help in an old peoples home. Again the main thing is that the initiative must come from you. You might even want to do this as a residential option.

Some more ideas; Student council, librarian, animal welfare, help in the JD, study buddy, direct a house play

Physical recreation – Could you be the next Ronaldo or Khorkina? Why not give a new physical activity a go or carry on training hard for the one that you have already started. Time spent in school clubs or inter-house events counts towards your Award. Virtually every physical activity counts from line dancing to high jump.

Some more ideas; Cheerleading, Diving, Horse riding, Parachuting, Skate boarding, Yoga.

Expedition – You need to complete an adventurous journey in the countryside. During the journey you must be self-propelled (no hitching lifts!) and be self-reliant. Before you go you will be involved in the planning and learn to look after yourself away from town. Whilst you are away you will continue to develop these skills. You will need an aim for the journey. This can be simply to survive or it might involve some scientific or geographical study.

What you will be expected to achieve,

	DURATION	MINIMUM HOURS OF planned ACTIVITY each DAY
BRONZE	2 days and 1 night	At least 6 hours during the daytime
SILVER	3 days and 2 nights	At least 7 hours during the daytime
GOLD	4 days and 3 nights	At least 8 hours during the daytime

How much time will it take?

	Developing a skill	Service to others	Physical recreation	Expedition
Bronze Award Years 8 and 9	10 hours	10 hours	10 hours	Take an active part in and report on a 2-day journey.
Silver award Years 10 and 11	15 hours	15 hours	15 hours	Help plan, participate in and report on a 3-day journey.
Gold Award Years 12 and 13	20 hours	20 hours	20 hours	Plan, participate and report on a 4-day journey.

You have 2 years to complete the award. The expeditions will be at specified times in the year. You can complete the skills, service and physical recreation sections through out the 2 years, but you must do a different activity for each section. The emphasis is that you take responsibility for completing your Award. Go out and get it".

Now for a few snapshots of the first outing, courtesy of Natalie Attar, Year 13 ...

For more photos please see the LVS Photos section