Senior School

Year 7 Outdoor Education: Numinbah Valley

Our Year 7 students have now completed their four day Outdoor Education programme at Numinbah Valley in the Gold Coast Hinterland. The experience saw boys overcoming challenges, working together, building friendships and reflecting on the future ahead of them at Churchie.

The tough hill hike with packs up to a grassy ridge saw them digging deep and supporting each other to get to the top, and the combination of caving and abseiling at Turtle Rock showed them ‘how far they could reach out.’

They pushed their comfort zones to succeed and came to understand the metaphor, ‘When you build your bridge – you will get over it!’ The boys succeeded in ‘building their bridges’, overcoming fears, testing their fitness and problem-solving together.

The nature journalling, at Pollyanna’s river-front campsite, allowed the boys downtime to reflect and observe the amazing nature around them. Some fun pictures, drawing techniques and close observation sketches encouraged conversations about how to be ‘in the moment’ and enjoy it.

The ‘creeking’ in the Nerang River was a fun highlight for many as recent rain produced some flowing rides downstream. Between activities, the boys reflected on how to be successful at Churchie over their upcoming years in the Senior School.

Stephanie Cameron
Outdoor Education Teacher

Tri-Service Cadets – Fall of Singapore service

On Sunday, cadets from Navy and Air Force participated in the Fall of Singapore service at Anzac Square, Shrine of Remembrance. The Fall of Singapore, also known as the Battle of Singapore, took place in the South–East Asian theatre of the Pacific War. The Japanese Empire captured the British stronghold of Singapore, with conflict lasting from 8 to 15 February 1942. During the 70-day campaign in Malaya and Singapore, total Commonwealth casualties amounted to 8,708 killed or wounded and 130,000 captured (38,496 United Kingdom, 18,490 Australian of whom 1,789 were killed and 1,306 wounded).

Craig Howe OAM
Tri-Service Cadet Coordinator

Year 12 Wellbeing presentation with Krishneel Maharaj

The Year 12 Wellbeing Guest Speaker Programme continued last Friday with renowned performance psychologist, Krishneel Maharaj, who spoke to the Senior cohort. Topics covered related to how we can improve our performance and wellbeing in Year 12, including how to manage stress or anxiety in the lead-up to exams or stressful sporting moments and relaxation techniques to manage and improve focus and attention.

The session was very well received by the boys, provided much food for thought and initiated some interesting questions and comments. Krishneel’s address certainly prompted some of us to at least think about our use of mobile phones and music while studying.

Nick Mattiske
Mansfield House Captain

Parent Wellbeing Lecture Series

Last week, Advanced Sports Dietitian, Peta Carige presented to parents on topics such as fuelling for performance and common mistakes, protein supplements and teenage muscle-building, body awareness – when to be concerned and practical tips for healthy habits in the home.

To view Peta’s PowerPoint slides and recovery recipes please visit the Parent Wellbeing Lecture Series page.

Rod Olsen
Head of Senior School