Our Year 9 cohort recently stepped away from their regular timetable to participate in their annual retreat, centered around the theme. The day offered students a valuable opportunity to pause, reflect on their connections with God, family, friends, and the school community, and explore what it truly means to foster supportive, lasting relationships.
The spiritual heart of the retreat connected the teachings of Jesus with Coach John Wooden’s celebrated Pyramid of Success. Throughout the day, students reflected on how Jesus’ earthly ministry modeled radical love, humility, and servant leadership. Just as Jesus demonstrated key character virtues—showing the initiative to call His disciples, the self-control to stay composed under pressure, the intentness to remain committed to His mission, and the ultimate team spirit of laying down His life for others—our Year 9s were challenged to develop these same qualities in their everyday lives.
Grounded in Christ’s commandment in the Gospel of John, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12), the retreat emphasized that genuine personal and communal success begins with selflessness, loyalty, and active care for those around us.
After the Cathedral Mass, students took part in an energetic series of “Minute to Win It” style rotation challenges across campus. Rotating through the IT Lab, Drama Studio, and Dance Studio, the cohort engaged in various activities designed to test precision, perseverance, and teamwork. Each fun challenge was paired with a Gospel link and group reflection, seamlessly connecting the hands-on games to real-world habits of patience, communication, and mutual support.
Upon returning to campus, students rotated through three venues: the IT Lab for the Iron Man and Suck It Up challenges, the Drama Studio for Cup Stack and Face the Cookie, and the Dance Studio for Elephant March and Balloon Air-Lift. Each activity was paired with a theme, gospel link, and small-group reflection, helping students connect the energy and fun of the physical games directly to real-life habits of patience, communication, and mutual support.
The retreat concluded with a high-energy whole-cohort celebration and awards ceremony, honoring individual homeroom champions and the overall House winner for sportsmanship and teamwork.
It was a thoroughly joyful and uplifting day that brought the Gospel message to life in a practical, memorable way. Our Year 9 students walked away energised, closer as a cohort, and equipped with more foundational tools to build strong, healthy relationships throughout the school year and beyond.
A sincere thank you to all the staff, teachers, and student leaders whose dedicated work made the 2026 Year 9 Retreat a resounding success!
