RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

YEAR 12 RETREAT - A MESSAGE FROM ZACH AND CAITIE... 

Recently, the Year 12’s of 2019 ventured to Anglesea to take part in the Retreat organised for us. The Retreat aims to allow time for us to step back from the harsh realities of Year 12 and instead relax and recuperate our thoughts, all while taking part in awesome activities and bonding together as a group.

Initially, I think many of us saw this week as a week off from school, but we quickly realised that you’d only get out as much as you put in. Our retreat was conducted by Fr. Ray and the staff at Camp Wilkin, who both did an amazing job at providing us with great fun and brilliant food, but also creating an emotional environment where we all felt comfortable to open up to each other and therefore, become so close together. We as a Year 12 group saw sides of not only ourselves, but also our classmates, that we never thought we’d see, and that only brought us closer throughout the week. All of us were reduced to tears at some stage, but it was good to see that we were all okay with being so emotional in front of others.

The Retreat at Anglesea is a memory we hope to never forget, as the Year 12 cohort has now developed a level of respect for all members of Year 12 and turned from a group of friends, into a close knit family. The 2019 Year 12 Retreat changed all of us and I know we only wish we could go back, but nevertheless, the Year 12 group can now say that because of this amazing experience, we are all closer together, and are looking forward to the bond becoming stronger in the short time we have left.

Zach Hickey

Year 12 Student and College Captain

Held in the last week of semester one, retreat was a long awaited break for the Year 12s, providing us with a much needed escape from the rigours of school. While we had all been looking forward to what retreat had in store for us for a long time, I don’t think any of us had fully anticipated the impact that this week would have on us individually, and as a year level.

The different aspects of retreat focused largely on challenging us and pushing us beyond our usual comforts in a social, physical and personal sense. While surfing and high ropes was a favourite for many, providing us with the opportunity to tackle new challenges, there is no doubt that the seminars run by Fr Ray were the highlight of the camp. Providing us with a welcoming and friendly atmosphere, it did not take long for Fr Ray to shatter any barriers that existed within our group.

Through a combination of games, music and reflections, we were each encouraged to think from other perspectives, acknowledging our own emotions while also learning to understand each other. By the end of the week, every one of us was comfortable being open in front of our peers, and was accepting of each individual within our Year 12 group; we even joked that this brought us so close that we became a family. More than anything, this grounded us and allowed us to connect with each other and ourselves in a way that will put us in the best position moving forward into semester two both in our personal and academic endeavours.

We cannot thank the staff at Camp Wilkin, the teachers who attended retreat with us (in particular Miss Cox), Fr James and Fr Ray enough for the incredible experience that they provided for us, as it was one that will certainly resonate with us long into our futures.

Caitie Torpey

Year 12 Student and College Captain

View<i> the Year 12 Anglesea Retreat video </i>here<i>. </i>

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CURRICULUM

During 2017-19 teachers at St Joseph’s College have spent a considerable amount of time revising our Religious Education curriculum based on the Awakenings guidelines published by the Catholic Education Office. This revision of our curriculum has required a great deal of hard work but has resulted in engaging courses that meet the needs of our students.

Our students undertake the following units:

VCE COURSES

All Year 11 students are studying either Unit 2 Religion and Ethics or RE Art Unit 1 for three periods per week, with all students undertaking 20 hours of community service.

All Year 12 students have participated in seminar days and a five- day retreat as well as undertaking twenty hours of community service.

As a parent, I encourage you to discuss with your son/daughter the current unit that they are studying. Your interest and discussion is a key part of our students developing their full potential.

If you require further information or have any questions, please contact Mr Philip Opie on (03)5018 8011 or via email.  

Mr Philip Opie

Religious Education Learning Area Leader