9-12 Community News

Year 12 Retreat 

Student Reflection

From 18th – 20th February, the entire St Augustine’s Year 12 Cohort travelled to Feathertop Chalet In Harrietville for the annual Year 12 Retreat.

The Retreat is an integral part of the Year 12 curriculum and is a feature of Catholic Education across the Sandhurst Diocese.

The purpose of the retreat is for students to explore their relationship with their faith, their families and their peers. It also provides students with an opportunity to engage in reflective and prayerful experiences.

The retreat is certainly a fantastic way for students and staff to begin the journey of Year 12 together. 

By all accounts, the Year 12 Retreat in 2019 was an utterly fantastic time for all students. It was a time of spiritual enlightenment and bonding in which all students engaged with enthusiasm. There were opportunities for sharing and reflection throughout our three days together.

We took part in a wide array of activities designed for both personal and social growth. Students were encouraged to share their ideas and philosophies on many different topics and were also taught many new philosophies and perspectives from our retreat leaders.

Additionally, we were all blessed with the opportunity to take part in rock climbing and high ropes courses, as well as countless other fun activities at Feathertop Chalet including mini golf, basketball, volleyball, swimming and tennis.

The beautiful environment and surrounds at the Feathertop Chalet, combined with the welcoming and relaxing atmosphere created by the teachers, is what made this retreat so special. The entire cohort became much closer as a collective and it was a phenomenal way to start the 2019 school year. 

Alex Plummer

Year 12 College Captain 2019

Unit 1 Outdoor and Environmental Studies Coastal Experience Learnings

“Learning about the dredging of Port Phillip Bay and the effects it has on the surrounding coastal environment was really fascinating.”

“It was fascinating to learn about the history of the area in and around Torquay, from Port Phillip Bay to Point Addis and everything in between.” Jackson Bray

“Learning about all the edible plants and berries that grow in the area around Torquay.” Blake McMeeken

“The dolphins were breathtaking, as well as all the seals relaxing on the gazebo.  It was unquestionably an adventure I wish to never forget.” Brodie Morris

“Overcoming my fear of the ocean and swimming with dolphins is definitely something that I’ll remember for a lifetime.” James Kour

“It was interesting to learn about the Wadawurrung tribe and we appreciated that we got to visit one of the sacred sites.”  Hannah Hocking