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In Week 2 of Term 3, the Class of 2024 spent three days in Collaroy for the Year 12 Retreat. Four students reflected on their time away:

The Class of 2024 set off to Retreat at the Collaroy Centre as we once did back in Year 7. It was a time of nostalgia and old memories as we reflected on our time together throughout the years at MacKillop. From those first days in Year 7, where we were still being acquainted with each other, to now, having meaningful relationships within our cohort. Interestingly, we noted that what differed from Year 7 to now is that the food was splendid and was heartily consumed, especially the breakfasts.

The time we spent at Collaroy was used to reflect on our time at school as individuals and as a cohort. From personal reflections, looking back at ourselves and through letters we wrote to our Year 12 selves, we feel we learned more about each other at Retreat than we may have done in the past six years as a cohort. Creating a deeper connection as a cohort, we wrote each other letters of affirmation throughout Retreat telling each other what we value about each and every person.

Mr Lee’s speech on the first night inspired all of us to be conscious and true to ourselves. The constant and persistent belief and faith in our year group has inspired us to look at our lives and those who are in it with just as much love, admiration and joy as Mr Lee does with us. Thank you, Mr Lee, for all you have done for us throughout our years at MacKillop.

The final night was filled with nostalgia as the projectors showed ourselves from Year 7 to 12 in an odd sort of circus mirror, along with the speeches from our Pastoral Care Coordinators Mr Crowe and Mrs Cunneen, as they told us stories about their own lives and their perspectives on our unique cohort. After the speeches, the best part about the night was in fact the surprise disco that our teachers along with the sound crew threw for us. Needless to say we left our mark at Collaroy in both a positive and very sweaty way!

Our time at Retreat was a memorable experience that brought our cohort closer together. It was a time of reflection and bonding with each other and teachers, from the boot toss to the late-night chats. We will cherish this Retreat with fond memories as our cohort's final year comes to a close, and we would like to thank all the teachers who contributed to make it such a success.

- Henry Crane, Sophie Baker, Maddison Philp & Jack Curtis, Year 12