On Tuesday 3 March 2026, our Year 8 students were lucky enough to have a retreat alongside the NET TEAM and senior student leaders. The retreat provided a well-scheduled day full of fun activities, enhanced with sacred and reflective moments, to enhance our spiritual connection with Jesus.
Firstly, fun activities such as tag and camera shots games were used for the entire cohort as icebreakers and tasks to get to know each other. After these small activities, the students broke up into small groups designed to be able to go into deeper depths of the Year 8’s spiritual hauroa; focusing on not just their religious life, but also their social skills amongst their small groups and senior leaders.
Throughout the day, small testimonies from different NET Team members allowed everyone, including myself, to empathise and gain a sense of understanding and impact. Lastly, beyond activities and laughs with senior leaders, the day concluded with an hour of reflection which allowed us to further be at peace with ourselves and others. Reflections such as writing positive statements on sticky notes, being able to communicate your personal feelings with a trusted NET Team member, a moment of prayer, and reflective music for others who just want to sit in silence with God.
As a senior leader participating in these activities, it enabled my own spiritual connection with God and made me realise how other people’s experiences with Him can create a further impact within our Catholic community in Sancta Maria College.
The Year 8s had a great time not just to mingle, but to grow their own spiritual connection with God. Thank you to the NET Team, staff, and senior leaders who participated in this event to give the Year 8s an experience of spiritual connection with smiles and laughs!
