With the first Year 9 Boarders’ Orientation Weekend in 2022 proving such a success, the initiative has become a permanent addition to the start-of-the year activities for the boarding community.

During the weekend, the students enjoyed 10-pin bowling, a visit to Adrenaline Forest, a fish and chip lunch, and a surfing lesson in Sumner, followed by a swim at Jellie Park in the evening. The next day, the students experienced an overnight stay at the Castle Hill Lodge and enjoyed a jet boat ride at Alpine Jet Thrills in Springfield. The Castle Hill Outdoor Education staff ran an orienteering activity, and boarding staff ran some Adventure Based Learning (ABL) games designed to plant seeds for the boarding journey. The final morning was spent rock climbing and abseiling before the students headed ‘home’ to the boarding houses.

Director of Boarding, Matt Parr, says the action-packed long weekend was a great opportunity for the group of 32 new Year 9 boarders to get to know each other, and the boarding staff. “We believe there is around three or four weeks of value from these three days in terms of connecting and bonding as a group.”