Year 7 Excursion 

Getting To Know You

Year 7 recently returned from what has to have been one of the best excursions ever.  Under the planning and guidance of Year Advisor, Mr James Vella, the purpose of the week away at Lennox Head was all about helping our newest students get to know each other better, build confidence along with team work and communication skills.

‘It’s quite clear since returning what a positive impact the week away has had.  I planned each day’s activities carefully to ensure we were giving the students great new shared experiences, safely helping them step out of their comfort zones and the opportunity to interact at a much deeper level with one another.’ explained Mr Vella. 

‘It’s clear since our return just how much they have grown individually and as a group. My whole aim was to return with better, more positive, stronger relationships with their fellow students and teachers alike.’

‘We sailed, swam, did yoga on the beach, built life rafts, scaled rock walls and walked a high ropes course as well as exploring Byron Bay to experience the hustle and bustle of a much larger centre that is culturally diverse.’

Year 7 students, Lachlan Young and Sara-Jane Horne were quick to offer that they considered sailing to be the highlight of the trip, with Sara-Jane explaining ‘It was a lot of fun and a totally new experience. There were two other people in the boat and you each had different jobs.’

Lachlan added, ‘I already knew the students who came from the other local primary schools, but not very well.  Now we are all good friends.’

Fellow student Jye Smith thought the trip to Byron Bay was the highlight. ‘It was interesting to explore a new and much bigger place. I really liked the shops and there were so many people around. A bit different to home. The Byron Bay Lighthouse was interesting too. It is still a working Lighthouse.’

For others, including Lane Wright, it was the paddle boarding that stood out as being the most fun. ‘It’s not as easy as it looks.  Bit by bit we all got better at it, but trying to balance and paddle was hard work. When we mastered it we started to dive off and do back flips.’

But for Lacey Evans, she couldn’t choose. ‘The whole trip was fantastic. I just want to go back. I loved building the raft together and I feel like I now have better friendships with everyone in my year.’