Last week, Year 12 students embarked on a transformative journey during their annual retreat. Amidst the serene backdrop of nature, they delved into moments of introspection, fostering deeper connections with themselves and one another. Spread across two sites at Kiah Ridge in Tahmoor and Mt Carmel Retreat Centre in Varroville, we had the privilege of sharing our stories and strengthening our relationships with those outside of our regular friendship groups. 

We engaged in a variety of enjoyable activities that strengthened our connections to one another and brought out confidence in expressing ourselves, including a newspaper fashion show, writing affirmations, karaoke, Just Dance, bushwalks, free time/reflection and making informational videos.

Upon arrival, we held an Ash Wednesday liturgy to celebrate the start of Lent, commencing the three days ahead helping us to develop and express our spirituality and connection with God as individuals and a cohort. 

One of the highlights of the retreat was the small group sharing sessions. We were able to engage in heartfelt conversations, sharing our thoughts, fears, and dreams in a safe and supportive environment. These exchanges allowed us to empathise with one another's experiences, fostering a sense of camaraderie and understanding.

Meditation and journaling played a central role in the retreat, providing us with valuable tools to find inner peace. Guided by Magdalene’s experienced staff, we explored various meditation and reflection techniques, learning to embrace stillness amidst the chaos of our final year of schooling.

This experience was invaluable to the year 12 community and the connection made has carried through to our everyday school life, with a whole grade picnic at lunch on the Monday after we returned and an overall positive atmosphere amongst students. We thank Mrs Taccone, Mrs Hayden, Mr O’Neill, Mr Sligar and all of the supervising staff for organising and guiding us through this wonderful experience, which will be a vivid part of our school memories forever. 

Mrs Rosanne Taccone

Year 12 Coordinator