Our Year 12s concluded Term 2 with their three-day Pastoral Care Retreat. We began with Mass and a Retreat blessing in our Chapel before boarding buses with sleeping bags, pillows and with what looked like enough luggage to stay away for a month. Bound for Swan Valley Adventure Centre, our students together with staff including Year 12 Pastoral Care Advisors were primed for a wonderful Retreat experience, led by myself with Chisholm Alumni and Retreat Guru, Ronan McGinniss.

Our Retreat sessions built towards two main themes, firstly that life is precious and a gift from our Creator God and secondly, that we are sharing an important part of our life with our peers and teachers of Chisholm. Participants acknowledged the good we see in one another and ourselves by writing affirmation notes to each other and ultimately received those as a final gift as we concluded Retreat. Along the way we ate like kings and queens, enjoyed team building challenges and a competitive and fun Quiz Night, chose our own adventure activities, worked on both individual and collective artworks which will form part of our 2023 Graduation Night.

I wish to thank Ronan McGinniss, Mr Williamson, Mrs Huggins, our awesome Year 12 PCAs and all staff involved in the Retreat for their collegiality and generous contribution, care and support. The Year 12s are in good hands and good company as they start their final term at Chisholm.

Mr John Swindells
Deputy Principal – Mission