Year 12 Curriculum Enrichment Week

Year 12 LIFE Week

Retreat at Peace Be Still

Following two days walking along the Camino Salvado our Year 12 pilgrims enjoyed a comfortable night’s sleep at the Peace Be Still Retreat Centre in the Chittering Valley. The location certainly lives up to its name, Peace Be Still, set amongst rolling green hills in the Chittering Valley with the calming sounds of birds and the occasional blare of sheep.

Students experienced a wonderful Mass celebrated by Fr Bona before enjoying a sumptuous meal followed by the showing of the film “The Way”, staring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez. The story is a moving and sometimes humorous account of several characters on pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Like the students’ own pilgrimage, it is a journey of self-discovery and a time of spiritual reflection.

The next day students participated in a range of activities focussed on taking the long view in life, an idiom that asks the students to think about the effects actions and decisions taken today will have in the future. This is particularly relevant to our Year 12 students as they prepare for their final examinations and consider future career options. Activities included showing affirmation, journaling, creating “Way Markers” for their life’s journey, and a reflective journey through a labyrinth in the retreat centre grounds.

A visit to Tertiary Institutions

On Thursday of LIFE Week Year 12 VET students visited the Careers Centre and the Defence Forces Recruiting Centre in the city.

ATAR students visited Notre Dame University, Australia in Fremantle and were welcomed by Dave and Hannah from the prospective students office who gave an informative insight into the distinctive features of the courses, what life is like at the university, and a presentation on the admission procedures. Students also enjoyed a visit to the Biomedical laboratories where they investigated different urine samples for diseases. Student also had the opportunity to dissect a sheep kidney.

The VET students travelled to Fremantle to join the ATAR students for a typical Fremantle lunch of fish and chips by the wharf.

On Friday a number of VET students attended their regular work placement program while a small group caught up with some Christian Service at Holy Cross College.

ATAR students visited the University of Western Australia on a very wet Friday and began with a presentation on admission procedures and university courses present by Nasim from the future students office. Our guide for the day was third year Science student, Sasha, who escorted the students to many places around the enormous campus. Sasha was an expert in university history and trivia, even pointing out the space invaders art piece hidden on the wall of one of the buildings.

Simone, at University Hall, welcomed us for an amazing lunch and tour of the residential complex. Students completed the day with around two hours of intensive study on Mathematics at the Reid Library.

Throughout the week we have been overwhelmed by the hospitality shown to us from Wendy at the Peace Be Still Retreat Centre, Dave and Hannah at NDA and Sasha and Simone at UWA.

I would like to thank all staff who have contributed to making LIFE Week especially memorable for the graduating Class of 2014: Ms Connor, Mrs Amatulli, Fr Bona, Mr Muller, Mrs De Courcier, Mrs De Pino on the pilgrim walk along the Camino Salvado and retreat at Peace Be Still; and Mr Wilson, Mr Mazzini, Mr Gray and Mrs Jess at the visits to the tertiary institutions and careers centres.

Mr Peter Collins

Vice Principal

29 August 2014