Co-curricular

Cadets

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Ravenswood was the first girls’ school on Sydney’s North Shore to offer Cadets to its students from Years 8–12. Students can join the Knox Grammar Cadet Unit in Term 4 of Year 8 and continue with the program until Term 2 of Year 12.

In 2011, Knox welcomed its first 40 female recruits into the Knox Grammar Cadet Unit. Today, there are more than 300 Ravenswood students in the almost 1300 strong unit, with a number of students filling senior leadership ranks, including CUO (Cadet Under Officer) and the appointment of 2IC (Second-In-Charge) of the unit.

Cadets is one example of Ravenswood seeking to partner with boys’ schools. Through these types of programs, Ravenswood can maintain the integrity of a girls’ school and continue to advocate girls’ education in a single-sex environment, while at the same time, providing students the opportunity to develop social skills with boys.

Being involved in Cadets encourages service, leadership, teamwork and outdoor skills. Students learn to be confident, self-sufficient and to 'have a go' in mentally and physically challenging activities.

Key activities of the Cadet program include:

• Friday training - Training takes places every Friday afternoon during term time. Cadets learn core skills in preparation for field exercises and ceremonial occasions.
• Annual Field Exercise – The annual camp runs for eight days in the bush, designed to consolidate skills and training, and encourage teamwork in a physically and mentally challenging environment.
• Promotion courses - Trains all participants in the essentials of leadership, management and risk assessment.
• Ceremonial Parades - Two ceremonial parades to commemorate the Anzacs and the 'Old Guard'.
• CAS Drill Competition – Cadets compete annually for the prestigious title of ‘CAS Drill Champions’
• CAS Military Skills Competition – Cadets compete in a variety of different skills including signals, navigation, first aid and field craft.
• Adventure Training Award – Senior Cadets can apply to take part in the six-day challenging assessment of physical and mental endurance, field craft, survival skills, teamwork abilities, initiative and leadership.
  

Biennially, a group of current and former Ravenswood Cadets trek the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea. The Cadets, and some of their parents, walk the 96 kilometres from Kokoda to Owers’ Corner, tracing the path followed by the Australian troops in the 1942 Kokoda campaign.