There is (within independent schools) a tradition of retreats that enables an integration of the student’s learning, their social interaction and the spiritual self. Over the last decade Newington College has provided the opportunity for Year 12 students to spend three days on a Retreat.

The goal of this retreat is to provide an occasion to explore issues of spirituality in an enjoyable environment.

More specifically a retreat provides the students opportunities for:

• Reflection and meditation away from the normal stresses of day to day school life
• to think more clearly about who they are and what direction their life will take
• to focus on the larger picture of life and not just on the looming HSC
• to reassure and reinforce faith
• to become clearer in thinking about their relationships with self, others, God and the world

Naturally, not all of the students at Newington are Christian, nor are all, willing to make any sort of faith statement at this time in their lives. Our retreat model allows us to work with a group of students who may be from diverse faith backgrounds, or from no faith background at all, by assuming that all people have a spirituality. The response of the student to the retreat process and the manner of that response will be unique to each person.

The Retreat is to be held after the Mini Examinations in Week 11A commencing Wednesday 10 April departing at midday and returning Friday 12 April at 3.30pm. Letters will be sent home in the near future and will also be available at the Year 12 Parent / Teacher evening. It is very important that medical and dietary information is returned no later than Thursday 28 March.

Bob Meakin
Deputy Head of Stanmore / Head of Pastoral