The Tops Camp Experience

Year 9 were fortunate enough to visit The Tops and immerse ourselves in everything it had to offer. On Monday, April 8th, the Year 9 cohort arrived at Magdalene Catholic College, lugging suitcases filled with supplies that would sustain us for the next three days. Despite the long bus ride (made even longer by the last coach's reluctance to engage fourth gear), excitement was palpable as we boarded the buses and arrived safely.

Our time at The Tops provided numerous opportunities to push our boundaries and strengthen our bonds with our peers and teachers. One such activity was abseiling, where students could conquer their fears in a safe environment by descending cliffs or towers. Some groups even had to withstand terrible conditions with freezing temperatures, wind and rain.

Another memorable activity was archery. Whilst hitting the target proved challenging, we eventually got the hang of it (discounting the occasional arrow that may have gone a bit astray). Nevertheless, it was a rewarding and enjoyable experience.

The Goliath swing was a crowd favourite offering a thrilling experience which provided many screams and laughs along the way. Shoutout to the teachers who led the way and joined in on the activities and especially Miss Wang who offered us all the reassurance we needed by volunteering to go first in Group 2.

Cart racing was another highlight, bringing out our competitive sides and ensuring a fun-filled experience for everyone involved. Although there were many near-misses and crashes into the tyre track, we all enjoyed the opportunity to work with each other as a team to ultimately win the title of cart champions.

However, one aspect that varied were the food options provided. While some dishes exceeded expectations and satisfied our taste buds, others fell short, leaving us less than satisfied. We can tell you we definitely enjoyed the post camp maccas run on the way home and the home cooked meals our parents provided us with when we returned.

At the end of the first night, we were treated to a silent disco. Among the three channels available, the blue channel seemed to be the crowd favourite, featuring the best selection of songs. Singing, dancing, and laughter filled the air as we wrapped up the first day at camp.

As the sun briefly appeared on day two and some very tired individuals awoke, we were provided the opportunity to complete more of the activities. We must acknowledge the enormous effort of majority of groups who completed activities in less than desirable weather conditions. Students abseiled down cliffs, lept through the air to grab hold of a ring, hit targets in archery and swang through rain and wind on both the Goliath and giant swing, meanwhile three very lucky groups were indoors running the inflatable obstacle course. 

As the sun set and we were able to get warm and comfortable, we were taken through a fun filled trivia night with questions surrounding various topics of disney, superheroes, where in the world and the crowd favourite ‘the next three lines’ where students were singing at the top of their lungs to various upbeat and popular songs. Whilst the students tried their best, the teachers were victorious and now have bragging rights.

A big thank you goes to the team of teachers who supported and guided us throughout our time at camp. Mrs Hayden, Miss Wang, Miss Slender, Mr Perini, Mr Gorrie, Mrs Cimino, Miss Labour, Mr Sligar, Miss Marcus, Mrs Peters, Mrs Noy, Mr Bubb and especially our Year Coordinator Miss Cupillari who organised the camp experience and ensured we all were able to have a memorable time.

By Isaac Healy, Indianna Keegan, Tomas Slater and Giuseppina Vecchio 

Year 9 Pastoral Lesson, 16th May

Wired

On Thursday 16th May Brainstorm Productions will be presenting their student wellbeing performance ‘Wired' for the Year 9 cohort during our pastoral lesson. The show follows the journey of two students who are struggling to manage their mental health, relationships and online experiences. When their worlds collide, the audience must help them find a different path.

Wired is an interactive theatre experience that tackles some of the big issues affecting Australian students, including social isolation, anxiety, stress, depression, (cyber)bullying, online safety, school stress and pressure from social media. It addresses barriers to help-seeking and provides strategies for resilience, problem-solving, goal-setting and positive mental health.

‘Wired' has been developed by education and mental health professionals. This engaging live show uses humour, audience participation, relatable characters and real student experiences to spark conversations and facilitate further learning in the classroom. 

Brainstorm Productions is one of Australia’s most experienced and respected theatre in education companies, performing to over 260,000 students every year. They are endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider. 

Learn more about Brainstorm Productions by visiting their website (brainstormproductions.edu.au)

Year 9 Mental Health Program

In weeks 4-6, Year 9 will attend a program called Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM). YAM is a program aimed at addressing the mental health needs of young people. The Wollongong Catholic Education Office is committed to delivering the Yam program to all year 9 students across the diocese. Please find the flyer attached which details what the program entails and how it will run at Magdalene this term. If you have any questions please contact Miss Cupillari via email or the College office.

Thank you,

Miss Tahlia Cupillari