Our Year 7 students enjoyed a full and busy week of activities from Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February to ensure they are set up for a smooth transition into secondary school.
This year, for the first time in a very long time, we attended a new camp. The Year 7s travelled to Alexandra Adventure Resort. Blue, Silver, Green, Jade, Purple and White were the first homerooms to embark on this new journey on Monday morning. On the Wednesday, the homerooms switched over and Alexandra welcomed Aqua, Red, Orange, Bronze and Gold. This camp offered a new experience for our College, firstly by accommodating our entire cohort over the five days and being able to travel further from home gave them the opportunity to step out of their comfort zones. Alexandra Adventure Resort offered some fantastic activities such as the giant swing, high ropes course, canoeing, an educational wildlife show and some much-needed pool sessions in the hot weather.
On the two days students were not on camp they were at school taking part in the ‘Stepping Forward’ program. Similar to previous years, author Sharon Witt was due to be our guest speaker on the topic ‘Surviving High School’, unfortunately Sharon was unable to attend this year so McAuley Campus Learning Advisor Mr Neal Haining provided the Year 7s with a similar and engaging presentation. During these two days students also received their Chromebooks and learnt about cyber safety, the Counsellors workshopped ideas about friendships and settling in and students again visited our Chapel where they learnt about our Mercy heritage and the story of Catherine McAuley. The Stepping Forward program concluded with a small taste of the MLMC Swimming Carnival. This gave the Year 7s the opportunity to see how this event would run ahead of the main carnival today (Friday 25 February).
Below are some student reflections on the Year 7 camp experience:
This year, on camp, we went to a new camp called Alexandra Adventure Resort. I really enjoyed it. We did many activities there including the giant swing, high ropes, low ropes initiatives, gaga ball, orienteering, canoeing and more. I loved making new friends and hanging out in the cabins. My favourite two activities were the giant swing, which really got your adrenaline pumping, and the wildlife show. We got to see a dingo, a spider, an owl, a lizard, snakes, a turtle and some frogs. I really enjoyed this new experience and I loved everything about this camp.
— Priya Rohead (Year 7 Aqua)
Last week all the Year 7 classes got the chance to attend Alexandra Adventure Resort for Camp. There were so many thrilling activities to be a part of. My personal favourites were the pool and wildlife show. I was in a cabin with some amazing girls, whose company I enjoyed very much. I got the chance to talk to and meet many new faces, which was great. Overall, I enjoyed Year 7 Camp very much as it stretched my social ability and I got to try lots of new things.
— Harper McMillan-Gross (Year 7 Aqua)
I enjoyed camp at the new campsite because it was my first school camp ever. I really enjoyed the pool, giant swing and animal show. It was an amazing experience to get to know my friends and classmates even better than I did before. All the teachers and staff made it a fun and safe experience.
— Inara Dean (Year 7 Bronze)
I really enjoyed camp because we got to experience different activities and events like a 16m high giant swing, low ropes and high ropes course, archery, orienteering, trivia and lots more. A few of the activities you had to work together as a team, so you got to know your homeroom better. My favourite part of camp was definitely making new friends, the giant swing and the wildlife show. My Year 7 camp is differently my favourite one so far.
— Stacey Brogan (Year 7 Bronze)
