Year 12 Retreat

From Monday 1st until Friday 5th March, all Year 12 students travelled to the Don Bosco Camp in Dromana for their annual Retreat. During Retreat students explored their place in school and the wider community and their journey through their years of education leading to their senior years.

Students travelled by ferry across the Bay to the campsite where they enjoyed 3 days of spending time as a cohort and developing and strengthening relationships.

A beach walk, yoga, art classes, mindfulness activities, team building games and companion bracelet making were highlights of the trip. Students threw themselves wholeheartedly into all activities and the sounds of laughter and quiet contemplation were equally as prevalent.

Students also had an opportunity to reflect on their journey at Saint Ignatius College and look towards their future. They contemplated this in a manner befitting some of the values of Saint Ignatius – gratitude, respect and kindness. The values of Saint Ignatius were reflected in the many activities undertaken and students had an opportunity to reflect on these and strengthen their faith.

Delicious and plentiful meals were a highlight and it was lovely for students to share meals and conversations in this environment and slow down and take a step back from our busy schedules

The support of the staff that attended the Retreat was amazing and I can’t thank them enough for their dedication to our year 12 students by participating 100% in all activities and giving up their time away from their personal lives to share this experience with the students.

A very big thank you to Mr Paul Lewis , Mr Michael Tod and Mr Jarryd Atkinson for their support, organisation of the program and ensuring everything we needed was available.

All staff ensured a memorable Retreat was given to our students – huge thanks to Mr Michael Timms, Ms Tenille Thomson, Mr Angelo Scotto, Mrs Colleen Boland, Ms Ruth Nolan, Ms Andrea Dart, Mr Malcolm Campbell, Mr John Clatworthy, Ms Vicki Munro, Mr Brendan O’Brien, Ms Kate Kearney, Ms Stacey Learmonth, Mr Jason Broadbear, Ms Julia Hall, Mr Joe McLean, Miss Georgia Robinson and Mrs Alex Simpson

Kristin Williamson  Year 12 Coordinator

Below are reflections from some Year 12 students about Retreat followed by a photo gallery.

Sebastian Dowler

The Year 12 Retreat was a different experience than what I expected, The environment was relaxing and it really took me out of the Year 12 mindset in a way that allowed me to focus on the present and not worry about the rest of the year.

My favourite moment from the Retreat would have to have been on the first night where a large group of us sat around an open fire, toasting marshmallows and listening to both students and teachers playing songs until the fire slowly withered out.

Another fantastic highlight was definitely Mr. Lewis’ “Lighthouse People” seminar as it helped me to understand who the important people are within my own life and how they guide me.

After this Retreat I feel refreshed and motivated to do my best and to strive for my end of year goal.

Elly Davis

Last week the Year 12s embarked on their final school Retreat. We caught the ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento and from there journeyed on the bus to Safety Beach.

While on Retreat we undertook many activities, including a walk to the pier, Bu Hall’s hidden moral games, a yoga class, a wellbeing workshop, art with Ms Nolan, team building activities with Mr Timms and many examen sessions.

While on our beach walk we were asked to collect a small rock, this rock became representative of something we wanted to let go of in our lives. On the final night, we all walked back to the beach and discarded the rock into the water. This was symbolic of letting go.

During the week, we had opportunities to get to know others in our year level who we may not usually interact with at school. This allowed us to learn more about one another and develop empathy for the way in which we are all different.

Overall, retreat was a time for us to reflect on our past years of schooling and look forward to what our final year at Saint Ignatius has in store for us.

Emilie Punton

As the pressures of year 12 have finally somewhat sunk in, I found retreat an opportunity to form closer relationships with my peers and my teachers, as well as take some time for myself to understand how I want my year to play out. I really enjoyed participating in the wellbeing workshop as it emphasised the importance of keeping goals throughout the year as well as discussing strengths that others and yourself hold. Overall retreat was an unforgettable experience, that I am sure that I will remember long after year 12 finishes.

Noah Crone

I had a very enjoyable time on the Year 12 Retreat. It was the perfect opportunity for a short break before the true stresses of Year 12 catch up to us all. I really enjoyed many of the activities we did over the 3 days. One of my personal favourites was the last night when we put together short plays and presented them in front of each other, usually this wouldn’t be something I would enjoy, however the welcoming people of our cohort made it easy and super fun, and of course the dance battle between Brodie and Coco was definitely the highlight. The food was great, there was plenty of it too, I don’t think I’ve even been as full as I was for those days.

Matilda Leibhardt

I was grateful for the opportunity to develop more personal connections with teachers and to get to know people I wouldn’t normally hang out with. It was a worthwhile experience and one to look forward to in Year 12!

Tegan Jakubzik

I went on the first Retreat when my actual homeroom attended the second, I was just put into another homeroom with none of my friends, I was kind of dreading doing all the group activities and having to share things with these people but as we started the group activities I proved myself wrong and immersed myself into the activities. I really enjoyed myself and loved finding things out about other people that I usually don’t talk to. One thing I really loved was about the wellbeing workshop, the 3 little compliments that we received, even though they were anonymous it made me smile reading what people who don’t know me well wrote. Something so small, but put a smile on my face, made me happy knowing that I could have made someone else’s day.