All posts by Mr Boag

S4 DOFE – Kit Return

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Updated Tuesday, 26th Sept at 10:20am

I have just had it confirmed that DOFE kit is to be returned to the Fairweather Hall at 4.30pm TODAY, if possible.

Apologies for the short notice, but I would be very grateful if parents/carers worked together to have all kit returned today.

Thanks

Mr B

*******************Sorry for the short notice*********************

TO ALL OUR S4 DOFE STUDENTS:

As of today (Monday) I have not had confirmed the date for when kit should be returned to the Fairweather Hall.

Please do not return the kit tomorrow (Tues, 26th Sept), as previously advised.  I will be in touch once I have a date and time confirmed by the DOFE Manager.

Mr B

DOFE Coordinator

S3 Duke of Edinburgh (New Group)

To all S3 students wishing to undertake the Duke of Edinburgh Award:

1. If you haven’t signed up for DOFE – there is still time . Pass your name to Mr Boag over the next week.

2. An S3 Google Classroom has been setup and has details of our first DOFE meeting (Wed, 27th Sept at 2.45pm).

3. A parent’s/carer’s meeting will be arranged for some time in October, this will be online and in the evening. I will run through what the students need to do to achieve their Bronze DOFE Award and the costs associated.  If parents/carers have any questions regarding the award, then either wait until the online meeting, see the DOFE website or contact the school directly.

Mr Boag (DOFE Coordinator)

S4 DOFE Expedition (Assessed)

The arrangements for the assessed DOFE expedition are:

  1. Students should meet at the Barrhead train station on Tuesday, 19th Sept for around 830am (we must catch the 8.56am train to Glasgow Central). ** Do not buy a ticket; these have been purchased for you!
  2. Students should make sure they follow the advice from the practice expedition: being ready to cook a substantial meal. Heating up an already prepared meal doesn’t meet the 20 conditions.
  3. Students should also stay together when in their walking groups – as per advice from the practice expedition.
  4. The weather is looking poor tomorrow. This means all sleeping bags, roll mats and spare clothes should be placed inside separate rubble bags before being put in the rucksack.
  5. Students should be prepared for wet weather i.e. have a waterproof jacket and trousers and have a change of clothes for when they get to camp. Hats and gloves would be handy too. (we have a small selection of waterproof trousers should students require them).
  6. We are hoping to be back at Barrhead train station by 3.30pm on Wednesday although this may be 4.30pm if we have to catch the later train. Students can be collected or dismissed from the train station. Follow our X (twitter) account for updates: @Barrhead_DOFE

S4 DOFE Expedition

Well done to our S4 DOFE students who completed their practice expedition today.

Can you remember:
1. Tents MUST be dried today. If you leave it, wet, rolled up in your bag you could be charged for a new tent. Dry the tent and there won’t be any issues.
DO NOT PUT TENTS IN A TUMBLE DRYER.

2. Trangia stoves. These must be cleaned with a brillo pad only. DO NOT PUT STOVES/POTS IN A DISHWASHER.

3. Think about what kit you might not need for the assessed expedition. Be careful, just because you didn’t use waterproofs this time doesn’t mean you won’t need them on the next expedition.

Think about how much food you’ve brought, can you bring less?

Any questions.. Ask them on our Google Classroom.

Thanks
Mr B

Your DOFE Leaders thoughts were:

1. On your assessed expedition you need to cook a substantial meal. Heating up an already made meal does not count, unfortunately.

Not cooking a substantial meal on the assessed expedition is enough for your assessor to fail you on the next expedition.

2. Additionally, when walking, students must stay in their groups. You should not split up and have three students way ahead with two students lagging behind. This is a safety issue, where, if an accident happened, everyone in the group is able to work as a team to get the injured party help.

The DOFE 20 conditions

 

DOFE Expedition Presentation (New S4)

Thanks to all the parents and carers who attended the recent Parent & Carer – Expedition Information Evening on Tuesday, 23rd May 2023 @ 7pm.

For those that missed the presentation the key messages were:

Practice Expedition – Wed & Thurs 6th & 7th Sept

  1. DOFE students are out of school on the 6th & 7th September to complete their practice DOFE expedition. Students are required to make their own way to Strathaven (ML10 6 DU) on Wed, 6th Sept for 10am. They should come prepared for a day of hillwalking including bringing all of their kit, plenty water, lunch, snacks, waterproofs, a hat, sun cream (see kit list below).
  2. The expedition kit collection date is currently Tuesday, 5th Sept at 5pm. Kit is issued from the Fairweather Hall (near Asda in Newton Mearns). This date will be confirmed in August. On collection of the kit, students are required to hand in a £50 deposit in a sealed envelope with the students name written on the front. The deposit can either be in £50 cash or  a cheque made payable to East Renfrewshire Council.
  3. Students will need collected from Williamwood High School on Thursday, 7th Sept from 2pm onwards. Students will message parents/carers when nearing Williamwood High School.
  4. Students will not need to return their kit in between the practice and assessed expeditions. Students should clean and dry all kit to ensure they do not lose their deposit. All tents should be wiped down with a damp cloth then hung up to dry . All Trangia stoves should be scrubbed clean using a brillo pad.  Trangia stoves should not be put in a dishwasher. All sleeping bags should be washed and dried.

Assessed Expedition – Tues & Wed 19th & 20th Sept

  1. The assessed expedition will be on Tues & Wed, 19th & 20th September. Students should meet staff at Barrhead train station at 830am on the Tuesday morning. Students do not need to buy a train ticket.
  2. Students will travel to Drumfrochar train station, with staff, where their assessed expedition commences.
  3. Students will return to Barrhead train station on Wed, 20th Sept at around 4pm, where they can be collected or dismissed.
  4. Students are responsible for all the kit that they borrow. They should wipe down their tent with a damp cloth then hang it up to dry. Their Trangia stove is scrubbed clean using a brillo pad. Trangia stoves should not be put in a dishwasher. Their sleeping bag should be washed and dried.
  5. The expedition kit return date is currently Tuesday, 26th Sept at 4pm. Kit is returned to the Fairweather Hall (near Asda in Newton Mearns). This date will be confirmed in September.

DOFE Progress

All DOFE students should have all three sections (Physical, Skill & Volunteering) fully completed by the September expedition.  Almost all students are behind with uploading their evidence and progressing their award. 

  1. For more DOFE updates, including progress on our expedition, please follow our Barrhead High DOFE Twitter account:  @Barrhead_DOFE

Further info:

DOFE Presentation: DOFE Expedition (June) Presentation 2023

Lyme’s Disease leaflet: Lymes Disease Leaflet

DOFE Expedition Kit List: Expedition_Kit_List (1)

Thanks,

Mr Boag

DOFE Coordinator