Year 7
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly;
teach and admonish one another in all wisdom;
and with gratitude in your hearts
sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.
Colossians 3:16
As we embrace the colder months, we have earnt the right to take a moment to reflect upon the journey that our Year 7 students have undertaken since their first day on the year.
During this time, our students have made the adjustment to a new uniform, new teachers, a more complicated and structured day and have taken advantage of a whole range of new opportunities. Some have found this difficult, some have found it overwhelming at times, and others have found it easy.
In this year of 'Wonder' at the College, the time of change in 2021 after such a difficult year in 2020 has given rise to moments of wonder on an almost daily basis.
Undoubtedly the biggest event of Term 1 was the Year 7 Camp, held from 15 to 17 March at Lord Somers Camp in Somers. The students participated in activities such as stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, pizza making and screen printing in their Homeroom groups under the guidance of the Lord Somers camp leaders. They also prepared a dance performance, the standard of which was so high that no amount of hyperbole could do it justice. The winners were 7-75 by a small margin but the general high standard made the judge’s decision a particularly difficult one!
Throughout the camp new friendships were made, and old ones were strengthened. Strong and high quality relationships are a major determinant of wellbeing, and also a powerful protective factor during difficult and challenging times, which happen to everyone at one time or another.
The success of the camp was due largely to the wonderful Kilbreda College staff who supported the students for the three days: Lucy Bush, Sanjini Chandra, Luke Delecca, Jacinta Devlin, Kim Elliott, Sue Grima, Laura Lunardi, Maria O’Leary, Sue Radford, Simone Ryan, Damian Smith, Madeleine Tabacchiera, Fiona Vella, Antonietta Scotto-Vatta and Marlene Weberruss.
Camp Reflection
Us Year 7 students were lucky enough to go on camp this year, and it was a blast! The peaceful Lord Somers Camp was an amazing opportunity to take a break and relax; as well as enjoy the stunning weather. There were so many different activities to do, including kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, pizza making, marine discovery, initiative games, and dance battles.
I really enjoyed the dance battle, as it allowed everyone to become closer, as well as participate in an exciting dance and have so much fun together. My class chose the song “Girls just wanna have fun” and let me tell you, we definitely had fun! The teachers were great to be able to pull this camp together and I am so thankful to them that it happened. I feel that I have become so much closer with my classmates and believe that we all share a stronger bond now.
Keisha Grunberg
Year 7
Camp Reflection
From March 15 to 17, Year 7 students were fortunate enough to spend some time in paradise, also known as Lord Somers Camp.
Only an hour and a half bus ride from Mentone, we arrived at our campsite, or as Mrs Devlin described it as “a little European village”; and she wasn’t wrong. All the cabins possessed a special charm. We gladly unpacked our bags, and set up beds, although we never wanted to get in them. Our pre-lunch activity began with a ring of ‘the fun bell’ which summoned us all to our leaders and teachers. For the 7.72 Homeroom the activity was a pleasant walk along the seaside, learning about and exploring the marine life.
Throughout the three days we spent there, we experienced many different enjoyable activities. We did screen printing, an activity where you design a print reflecting something about the Lord Somers Camp, and then have it printed onto a plain white shirt. Unfortunately, the ink on mine smudged slightly, but even so, it looked fantastic.
We also participated in pizza making, which was especially popular among the girls, due to the fact that we could eat it afterwards! Bravely, we all joined in on exciting water activities, which consisted of kayaking and stand up paddle boarding (SUP). We rode in our kayaks on the river, two people in one, and were taught how to properly row them. Unlike kayaking, we used the SUP boards in choppy conditions, and you couldn’t blame your partner if you tipped over! And finally, we played some very important games, designed to help us grow initiative and bond as a team.
Another special element of our camp was the discovery of wildlife. We found little birds that lived amongst the sand dunes and learnt that they were an endangered species. We spotted the playful fins of dolphins in the waves, and we noticed many other exciting creatures.
I must say, it would be unfair to label the night activities as ‘half the fun’. On the first night, the lovely camp staff held a trivia night for all of us to enjoy. But on the second night, all the fun was passed into the judge's hands, as we prepared and performed an epic dance routine in the dance competition. Each Homeroom choreographed a dance which they performed for everyone and we congratulate 7.75, with their well-deserved win!
Before we knew it, we were preparing for our departure. But we couldn’t bear the nearing time to leave, so we ended our adventure with a scenic walk to the first ever mansion built on the Peninsula. We also enjoyed a lunch amongst our friends and contentedly reflected on our camp experience, shocked by how fast time had flown by.
Angelina Del Vecchio
Year 7
All the Year 7 students deserve to be congratulated for the way that they have embraced life at Kilbreda, and for their positivity and generosity of spirit. May God and Saint Brigid continue to bless their journey throughout 2021.
Bill Fitzsimons
Level Leader: Year 7