▁isolated ▁situations , ▁the ▁School ▁of ▁the ▁Air ▁is ▁frequently ▁their ▁first ▁chance ▁of ▁social isation ▁with ▁children ▁outside ▁their ▁immediate ▁family . ▁This ▁is ▁supp lement ed ▁by ▁ 3 ▁or ▁ 4 ▁annual ▁gather ings ▁where ▁the ▁children ▁travel ▁to ▁the ▁school ▁to ▁spend ▁one ▁week ▁with ▁their ▁teacher ▁and ▁class m ates . ▁ ▁Studies ▁have ▁shown ▁that ▁such ▁education ▁has ▁a ▁par ity ▁with , ▁if ▁not ▁better , ▁standards ▁than ▁traditional ▁methods ▁of ▁school ing . ▁ ▁Awards ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Q 1 5 0 ▁celebr ations , ▁the ▁School ▁of ▁the ▁Air ▁was ▁announced ▁as ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁Q 1 5 0 ▁I cons ▁of ▁Queensland ▁for ▁its ▁role ▁as ▁an ▁icon ic ▁" inn ov ation ▁and ▁in vention ". ▁ ▁School s ▁of ▁the ▁Air ▁School s ▁of ▁the ▁Air ▁operate ▁from : ▁ ▁New ▁South ▁Wales ▁▁ ▁Bro ken ▁Hill ▁ ▁Tib o ob ur ra ▁ ▁Northern ▁Territ ory ▁▁ ▁Alice ▁Spr ings ▁K atherine ▁ ▁Queensland ▁▁ ▁C air ns ▁ ▁Char lev ille ▁ ▁Char ters ▁Tow ers ▁ ▁Long re ach ▁ ▁Mount ▁Isa ▁ ▁South ▁Australia ▁ ▁Port ▁August a ▁– ▁now ▁part ▁of ▁Open ▁Access ▁College ▁ ▁Victoria ▁▁▁ ▁Th orn bury ▁ ▁Western ▁Australia ▁▁ ▁Car nar von ▁ ▁Kal go or lie ▁ ▁Kim ber ley ▁ ▁Me ek ath ar ra ▁ ▁Port ▁Hed land ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁Alice ▁Spr ings ▁School ▁of ▁the ▁Air ▁School ▁of