Year 7 Camp Success

The first few weeks of the term have been very busy for all staff including the Pastoral Care team. Housemasters have been focused on connecting and reconnecting with students to help them settle into learning and other activities across the School.

This week has been vitally important for our new Year 7 students as they have been away at YouthWorks in Port Hacking for three days on the Orientation to Shore Camp. This has been an excellent opportunity for the boys to make new friends and learn how they can work together as a team and House group. We were fortunate that the weather conditions were good for most of the Camp, and the boys got to experience some great activities, including sailing, waterslides, catapult building, and rope climbing. Our Year 7 boys had a great time, were courteous to the Camp staff, and were respectful towards each other. They were also very well supported by an excellent team of staff who attended the Camp.

For some of the boys, this Camp was the first time they had been away from family for some time or in some cases, the first time they had been away from home at all. Some needed extra support and encouragement to keep going, and it was excellent to see the boys out of their comfort zones and persevering, even though they missed the safety of home. I want the Year 7 boys to know they have done very well to be away from home and embrace the time away with their peers.

For the boys, the Camp has been an important experience as they have participated in some new activities which made them think about the importance of teamwork and positive communication. Others have had to step up and take small leadership roles in their groups and encourage each other when things have been difficult. The Year 7 Camp is an excellent starting point for the boys as many of the camps they will experience in later years are much more physically and mentally challenging. The heavy wind and rain on the last night was a struggle, but I know that they will value this experience and it will help them navigate future camps.

Our Staff have been dedicated throughout the Camp and have done a terrific job. They left their families at home to be with the boys. Shore is very lucky to have experienced Staff who were able to care for the boys’ various bumps and bruises.

Overall, the Camp has been an excellent opportunity for the boys to connect and make friends. Youthworks Staff were very complimentary of the boys’ behaviour and attitude, and the teaching staff were very impressed with the way they stepped up and participated in the different activities. Well done Year 7!

Top image credit: Year 7 Camp

Mr D Champion
Deputy Head Pastoral Care