News

On Monday, the Year 12 cohort travelled to Cave Hill Creek, in Victoria, for the annual Retreat. 115 students and a number of staff participated in the three-day getaway, with this year’s theme, “The Road Not Taken”. The Retreat Program will form some of the most significant experiences in a student’s life at the College. During this time, the aim for students is to learn more about themselves, their relationships with their peers and with God.

One of the highlights on the first day were the prayer activities in the evening. Students were shown a number of different ways to pray including, through meditation, prayer walks, drinking tea and artistically through a mandala.

Day two saw the bonds between the students and staff grow in what was a packed schedule. Students spent time listening to the life journeys of a few staff members, then began to consider their own road of life. It became apparent that many students share similar highlights and challenges in their life journey so far. Students were also asked to consider who their ‘Board of Directors’ are – in other words, those people that are significant to them.

The next session for the day was all about finding balance. There are so many challenging demands on our young people in today’s society. Because of this, they were asked to think about aspects of their life that require more attention. Additionally, consideration was also given to those areas in life that they should devote less time to.

In the afternoon, students were challenged to consider what their image of God is. A number of activities were undertaken to help students to reflect upon this, which culminated in a canvas for each of the Year 12 Pastoral Care classes. These were beautiful expressions of the variety of ways that students visualise God.

Students then had the opportunity to take part in some activities of their own choice, from a diverse range such as bushwalking, archery, knitting, board games and fishing.

The focal point of all our Retreat programs is the Liturgy. Students were involved in planning this significant experience, and came together in prayer to celebrate the knowledge they have gained on Retreat, as well as to ask for strength to get through the year.

All too quickly, the Retreat was over. Before leaving, previous Year 12 students came along to offer some words of wisdom to the current students. The Mandala was then disassembled with the rice being collected to then be presented to the cohort at the end of the year as a farewell gift.

It was a full, but rewarding three days. Students and staff built lasting bonds that will give each other the strength to get through the year ahead and succeed, knowing that God is by their sides as they complete their final year at Tenison Woods College.

Sean Quirke | Head of Senior School

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