Year 8 Reflection Day
The Year 8 Reflection Day provided a unique opportunity for students to explore the values of Mercy through a series of interactive and thought-provoking activities. This day, designed to foster deeper understanding and participation in acts of service, was met with a mix of excitement, learning, and reflection.
Among the various sessions, Mercy in Action House Activities stood out as the favourite for many students. These hands-on activities allowed students to engage with the theme of Mercy in practical and enjoyable ways. From delivering pikelets to classrooms to picking up trash in Hotham Park, students appreciated the physical involvement and the sense of contributing to the community. Several students mentioned how fun it was to be with friends, work together, and make a tangible difference. One student reflected, “I liked the House activities the most because we got to do things we don’t usually do and be with people we are not usually with.” Another student enjoyed making hampers to donate to those in need, appreciating both the act of service and the teamwork it involved.
The Caritas Fundraising Launch and Planning for the Caritas Fundraiser sessions sparked interest in students about getting involved. Some students felt inspired by hearing stories from around the world, realising how their actions could help those less fortunate.
Some students enjoyed the sense of unity and the special moment of being photographed as a group at the end of the day, especially spelling out "MERCY" with their bodies.
Year 8 Reflection Day provided a meaningful chance for students to learn about Mercy, engage in community service, and reflect on how they can contribute to making the world a better place. The day offered valuable experiences and sparked conversations about what it means to live out the values of Mercy. Many students left the day with a deeper appreciation for helping others and a desire to get more involved in future initiatives.
Reflection day was a very important day because it broke up the week and helped the community with a multitude of activities. My favourite memory was in the final liturgy when the whole cohort sang, and we praised the Lord as one. Every house participated in different activities and my house Verdon cleaned up Hotham Park. We did heaps of work on Caritas and it really made an impact on how we take things for granted and even a little contribution will help save and help people in need.
Rex Rees
Reflection day was a day where students from St Aloysius College took the day off to reflect through different activities. In period 1, students learnt about the Mercy Values and how to show and respect them. In 2nd period, we learnt about Caritas, and we heard about Irene’s story, and it really impacted how we see the world and it opened our eyes to see how those who are less fortunate live every day. After recess we got into our house groups to complete activities. These activities were assigned to us from the charity of the House. At the end of the day, we lined up to take a photo of us spelling out the word MERCY
Lukas Spaaij
On Tuesday 4th of March, all of us had to reflect on what being a ‘Pilgrim of Poverty’ is like. We worked with Caritas, learning people’s stories. We learnt about a lady called Irene who was poor and did not have much money and turned her life over and helped to give back to her community. Then we had an opportunity to help our house charities. For Fallon, we prepared pancakes for Shrove Tuesday and Scully made hampers for those in need. Overall, we think that everyone enjoyed giving back to the community.
Thomas Boxer and Charlotte Attard
Marie-Claire Anastasiadis
Religious Education & Learning Leader