This past November, Allegra School supported four staff members, Kellie, Sooz, Reggie and Aaron, to participate in an extraordinary professional learning experience through the GLOW opportunity, an Antarctic flight experience that brought one of the most remote places on Earth directly into our learning culture.
The journey involved a 15 hour Qantas round trip flight from Sydney, offering a rare and powerful aerial encounter with the Antarctic continent. Flying over vast ice sheets, dramatic glaciers and towering mountain ranges, staff experienced Antarctica not as tourists, but as educators gathering authentic, immersive learning to bring back to students and programs across the school.
What is the GLOW opportunity?
The GLOW opportunity, Growth, Leadership, Opportunity and Wellbeing, is an Allegra initiative modelled on the NSW Premier’s Teaching Scholarships. It provides staff with the opportunity to undertake a study tour or immersive learning experience that advances professional practice and improves outcomes for Allegra students.
The GLOW opportunity is open to all staff and is designed to support professional development, staff accreditation and educational excellence. It is also a clear reflection of Allegra’s belief that investing in staff learning directly strengthens student engagement, wellbeing and outcomes. The school makes a commitment to this opportunity, with applications assessed by the Board based on alignment with the strategic plan and identified student needs.
This Antarctic experience represents the second GLOW opportunity the school has participated in, and has been recognised by the staff as one of the highlights of our professional development year.
Learning with purpose, not just experience
Onboard the flight, staff engaged in a guided learning experience led by expert Antarctic expeditioners, with commentary on history, geography and climate science. Scenic flyovers included the Ross Ice Shelf, Drygalski Ice Tongue and Mount Erebus, alongside opportunities to connect with other educators and scientists.
The outcome is far more than an incredible memory. It is a rich collection of firsthand stories, images, reflections and insights that will be embedded back into learning programs across Allegra. This experience directly strengthens our Literacy Program, providing a vivid real world anchor that supports curiosity, resilience and global citizenship.
Antarctica is a powerful context for Allegra learners because it makes big global ideas, climate change, sustainability, exploration and human resilience, concrete and engaging. Real world experiences like this spark curiosity and creativity, and allow students to connect learning to something meaningful and tangible.
Collaboration across roles and teams
Each staff member brings a unique lens back to the school:
- Sooz, Art teacher and photographer of the trip, captured Antarctica’s striking forms, textures and light, which will be authentically embedded into art units, presentations and visual learning experiences.
- Aaron, Geography teacher, will use firsthand observation to enrich Stage 5 learning around climate systems and human environment interaction.
- Reggie, Learning Support Officer, brings her experience into classrooms exploring the many interdisciplinary topics Antarctica offers, supporting accessibility and engagement for diverse learners.
- Kellie, Leader of Student Strategy and Support, will weave these experiences together into rich cross curricular lesson sequences that connect learning across subjects and student needs.
Together, this collaboration ensures the impact of the GLOW opportunity extends well beyond individual classrooms and strengthens learning across the whole school community.
Looking ahead
The Antarctic GLOW opportunity is recognised as a standout example of professional learning that fosters staff growth, collaboration and innovation. We are excited to see how these experiences continue to be embedded into programs, creating deeply engaging, meaningful and rich learning opportunities for our students.
In particular, staff would like to thank our Board of Governance for recognising the value of collaboarative and cross-curriculuar learning opportunitis.
At Allegra, we know that when staff learn deeply, students benefit profoundly. The GLOW opportunity continues to be a powerful way we bring this belief to life.