In Week 3, our Year 12 students had the privilege of participating in a three-day Retreat at Mt Carmel Retreat Centre in Varroville, Sydney. This Retreat offered a rare and invaluable opportunity for our students to pause, reflect, and engage in deep self-exploration. During this time, they considered the influences that have shaped their lives, their core values and beliefs, and the aspects of life that matter most to them as they near the completion of their final semester of secondary school and embark on the next chapter of their lives.

The staff were deeply impressed by how fully the students embraced the experiences and activities throughout the Retreat. The success of this event was a result of the dedication and heartfelt contributions of the teachers who accompanied the students, led with great care and insight by Mrs Katrina MacGregor. These people generously shared their own life experiences, fostering an environment where our young people could thoughtfully engage with some of the more profound and challenging aspects of human existence. Their guidance and openness played a crucial role in making the Retreat a truly transformative experience for all involved.

Central to the Retreat was the reflection on the words from Matthew 28:16-20:

"Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'”

This passage served as a powerful reminder to the students of their mission and purpose as they prepare to leave school and enter the wider world, reassuring them that they are never alone on their journey.

The Scripture quote also emphasises the theme of guidance, mission, and divine presence, which beautifully complements the reflective nature of the Retreat.

Mr Jacob Knowles
Assistant Principal – Development