Year 7 and 8 Reflection Days

Year 7

Students participated in a Reflection Day last Friday 1 April. The purpose of the day was to spend time in contemplation while deepening their connection with God and each other. The theme was ‘Marist in Name and in Nature’ and students explored the foundations and history of the Marist story, including a deeper understanding of their House Patrons and Colour Crests. Students had the opportunity to listen to Ms Hopkins who spoke about her Marist pilgrimage to France and the connection to significant sites such as Belley, Cerdon and Jarnosse.

There were other various activities including icebreakers that focused on teamwork, trivia questions about the Marist Charism, guided meditation and liturgy at the end of the day. One of the highlights was acknowledging individual qualities and gifts and celebrating them through the creation of a ‘treasure box of gifts’. 

A huge thank you to Mrs La Rossa, Ms Poli, Ms Graham, Ms Hopkins, Ms Pollari and Mr Neubronner who helped to facilitate a range of meaningful activities and assisted the Year 7 students in their ‘Compass for Life’ at MSCW. 

Year 8

Students were involved in their Reflection Day on Friday 25 March. The theme of the day was ‘Our Stories’, which centred on celebrating and sharing their stories within a Christian context. The day involved various icebreaker activities, discussions on stories that involve human spirit and resilience, and creating journals to serve as a reminder of the story of the day. Students also examined the stories Catholics celebrate within the Scriptures and reflected on them through a spider web activity. They had the opportunity for quiet, individual and reflective time through meditation and to write in their journals about their own story and how it has been celebrated. 

Ms Hopkins shared an oral testimony about her story of being part of a Catholic community, particularly her encounter with Pope John Paul II at World Youth Day. At the end of the day, a liturgy was organised where students were given the chance to connect with God and reflect on their day. It was a worthwhile and ‘much needed’ experience to take time off and connect with each other, particularly after remote learning last year.  

Thank you to Mr Hodges, Ms Kemp, Mr Iskander, Ms Poli, Ms Pollari and Ms Hopkins for facilitating the activities throughout the day. 

Ms Jenny Vu, Acting Assistant Religious Education Coordinator and Youth Ministry Coordinator  

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