Student Reports on SHINE and Retreat

Yr 11 Retreat - Report from Annabelle Hourigan & Xavier Cassidy-Thomason 

During week 4, Year 11 has had an amazing time on retreat. We spent our time connecting with other members of the year group and reflecting on what makes good leadership. Upon arrival, we participated in some icebreakers to build team morale and split into small groups for more focused insights into leadership. We were served excellent meals from the kitchen, which were only received after we sang grace together. As we progressed further into the night, we were able to delve into deeper questions and share our views on them. It became a truly reflective time, where everyone was able to think about their own views and opinions and share them with the year.

The next morning, we were fortunate enough to walk along the beach and watch the beautiful sunrise emerge, taking the time to connect with nature and our surroundings. Throughout the day, we engaged in more reflective activities that helped us gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and each other. This was accompanied by some hilarious moments during the games we played, which further solidified our bonds with each other. We were challenged and motivated through various activities that helped us evaluate who we are and who we want to be moving forward. As we finished the retreat, we reflected on what leadership means to us and discussed what types of leaders we need in our school to make the college a better place. 

We would like to thank Mrs Warby, Mrs Robinson, Mr Smith, Mr Howard, Mr Day, Mrs McGowan, Jacob and Megan (CYM from St Mary’s Casino), Mrs Joe and Darby for their excellent organisation of the activities and a retreat that was well orchestrated; it was definitely a time to remember.

SHINE - Report from Wil Hartley

Our trip started on day one with a noon departure from school, arriving at SJPC just after 1:00pm. We met in the hall where the band Wildfire conducted worship through energetic music, setting the tone for the retreat. Following afternoon tea, we attended our first breakout sessions, where we explored how faith intersects with various aspects of life. Some sessions focused on cultural awareness, others involved songwriting with Wildfire, and others explored more challenging questions about faith and religion. Dinner was a filling bowl of spaghetti bolognese with garlic bread, topped off with ice cream, before returning to the hall for more music and the faith-deepening experience of Adoration. Then we went off for a well-deserved night's sleep.

Day two began early at 6:30am, with everyone packing up before breakfast. Following a brief time to get sorted, we returned to the hall to hear some inspirational stories and keynote talks on living our faith in daily life. Morning tea provided a brief break before two further sessions, including discussions on the role of faith in sport and the relationship between religion, reason, and science. Following lunch, the day concluded with Mass, allowing many to reflect on the past day's events. By 3:30pm, we had gathered our belongings and departed, arriving home just before 5:00pm.