Our Year 7 students recently participated in a reflective and engaging Retreat, designed to foster connections and a deeper sense of belonging. The day began with students using their reflection journals to explore how to make the most of the experience, followed by icebreaker activities to meet new people and connect with others.
The Year 7 Retreat helped me a lot to connect with my peers and to find connections outside of the classroom. I found myself connecting with new friends, Youth Ministers, teachers, and myself. It showed me new ways to connect with others while staying true to who I am!
Throughout the Retreat, students spent time outside the classroom, learning about the JPC founders and traditions, taking part in games and fun activities, and reflecting on their spiritual lives. A key focus was the theme of belonging, linking the College’s rich history to students’ personal journeys. They also worked together to create a class prayer and banner, symbolising the values they share as a community. Year 11 CSYMI students facilitated discussions and role plays about the House Charisms at JPC, strengthening students’ understanding of their connection to the College community.
I got to learn a lot more about the history of JPC, and it was run very inclusively.
One of the most memorable moments for many students was the opportunity to write a letter to their future Year 12 selves, encouraging them to reflect on their journey ahead and set goals for personal growth.
My favourite activity during the Year 7 Retreat was when we had the opportunity to write letters to our future Year 12 selves. This activity really encouraged me to envision the future and future goals that would help me get to who I truly want to be and to achieve the best version of myself. It made me question myself with new possibilities of the future and what I can achieve, which was very motivating!
For me, the most meaningful part of the Year 7 Retreat was the letter to our future self. This is because I know that I will really look forward to reading that when I am on my Year 12 Retreat. Something else that I thought was meaningful about that specific activity is that we did it in the Chapel, where we are able to spend a lot of our time on Fridays in the coming years.
The Retreat provided a valuable opportunity for students to step away from their usual routines, reflect on their personal journeys, and strengthen their sense of connection to both the JPC community and their spiritual lives. By encouraging reflection, planning, and action, it helped students deepen their relationships and embrace growth, both now and in the future.
Thank you for the experience yesterday. Personally, I really appreciated it and am looking forward to doing another one in the future.