Camps & Retreats

The development of a student extends beyond the classroom. St Mary’s College prides itself on providing students with opportunities to apply their learning beyond the gates of our college in a range of camps and retreats. Every camp, retreat or excursion, offers your child a chance to build networks, make connections and improve interactions with their peers. Each experience allows your child to develop independence, resilience and courage.

‘Catholic schools need to provide the best apprenticeship that they can in the Christian life.’ (Bishops’ Mandate, 59).

College retreats and camps are an integral component of the life-long faith formation of our young people and form a distinctive part of Catholic schools. They recognise the individuality and dignity of each student by fostering their unique potential and spirituality.

Students in Year 12 enjoy a 3 day retreat that offers them a chance to step away from their regular academic routine and engage in immersive experiences that promote personal growth, team-building, and self-reflection. The aims of the Retreat are to:

• provide a discrete and unique programme of significant experiences that challenge students to integrate personal faith with their life and culture.
• encourage student response to, and enrichment of:
– identification and application of personal strengths
– self-understanding and self-esteem
– capacity to trust oneself and others
– reflective capacity
– critical review of personal Christian commitment
• facilitate exploration and ownership of some aspects of students’ experiences in the areas of:
– personal relevance of God
– reflective prayer
– celebrations of the Eucharist or Liturgy.
• develop and experience community through experiences of common challenges at more significant levels of understanding and sharing.

Throughout the Retreat, emphasis is placed on recognition of personal strength and capabilities, building trust, positive relationships, and stressing the importance of communication and respect for each person. Students are encouraged to respond to others as persons in building friendships and community. It is an opportunity for students to recognise their unique journey of life by reflection on achievement and recognition gained and their hopes for the future.

There is also time to reflect on their current journey and focus on re-setting some goals. The Retreat moves from social interaction to an opportunity for students to reflect deeply on significant personal influences in their lives. It enables students to reflect upon the quality of their relationships with each other. There is time provided for quiet reflection, prayer and meditation.

The Year 10 Retreat is focused on preparing students for their final years of secondary school and the transition into adulthood. Students travel to Perth for 1 week of visits to universities, TAFE’s, and residential colleges. Throughout the retreat, emphasis is placed on recognition of personal vocation and capabilities, building trust, positive relationships, and stressing the importance of communication and respect for each person. Students are encouraged to respond to others as persons in building friendships and community. It is an opportunity for students to recognise their unique journey of life by reflecting on achievement and recognition gained and their hopes for the future.

The aims of the retreat are to:
• Provide a discrete and unique program of significant experiences that challenge students to integrate personal faith with their life and culture.
• Encourage student response to, and enrichment of;
– Identification and application of personal strengths o Self-understanding and self-esteem
– Capacity to trust oneself and others
– Reflective capacity
– Critical review of personal Christian commitment
• Facilitate exploration and ownership of some aspects of students’ experiences in the areas of;
– Personal relevance of God
– Reflective prayer
– Celebrations of the Eucharist or Liturgy
• Develop and experience community through experiences of common challenges at more significant levels of understanding and sharing.