Last term Year 8 students took part in Mpower me Day. Over the two days, the activities provided opportunities for students to  strengthen connections and challenge themselves both physically and emotionally. 

I was very impressed with the positive energy the students brought to each activity ( even in some unseasonably hot weather!!) and their willingness to step outside their comfort zone and embrace the message the various activities provided.

I would like to thank Mr Zac Ellul for the work he put into planning the day and the staff - Mr Elton, Ms Denny, Mrs Renshaw, Mr Stephenson, Mr Kyriacou, Mr Higgins who gave up their valuable time to run the activities and connect with the students. Also, our support staff, Mrs Millington, Mrs Smilie and Mrs Edwards who ensured all students were supported on the day and the staff back at school, who covered lessons so that these staff members were able to attend the day. It was a team effort!

Below is a reflection of the day written by Kate Walker, Emmeline Le, Aidan Smith, Charlotte Hertzberg, Isabella Ngyuen and Bonnie Jennet

MPOWER ME DAY 2023

Introduction/Aidan

Last term in week 9, year 8 participated in the M power me day which was organised by Mr Elull. It was spread across two days which was split into two sections; on campus and off campus and separated by girls and boys.

For the first day, the girls started off campus. The girls all made their way to the bus and sat with their friends, the bus filled with chatter and laughter.They were excited to arrive at Nowra showground. 

While on the school grounds the boys all went up to k block and were organised into 4 groups. The boys were looking forward to the fun activities and ready to embrace the challenges.

The second day,the activities were reversed and there was lots of anticipation about the events ahead.

Rock climbing/Emmeline

This was the first activity off campus. The group started off by walking down a rough track with helmets and harnesses to protect ourselves. As we walked down the track, we got to see the beautiful view of the Shoalhaven River. Making it to our Rock Climbing spot, we first learnt the safety rules to rock climbing and that year 10 students would be guiding us along the way as well as making sure we are safe. This activity allowed other students and I to test our courage and confidence capabilities. I personally learnt from this activity to have trust in others so that I would be able to make my way up the rock wall. I enjoyed this rock climbing activity very much. And a big thank you to Mr Higgins, Mr Kyriachou and all the year 10 students that helped us along the way.

Bush walk / Kate

The second activity was the bush walk and Mr Stephenson led us out to Ben’s walk. The group quickly split up into friend groups as we joyfully set out, observing the beautiful surroundings. The walk followed along the shining river, with people stopping every two steps to ask; “Sir, can we take a photo?”. Mr Stephenson reluctantly agreed, allowing for our phones to be quickly filled with amazing memories. The track followed the river, making its way into the forest, where sudden screams were let out at the sight of a huge diamond python. We made our way across the rocky bridge that led us over the beautiful water, violently shaking at every step we took. The conversations as we walked along the path were filled with happiness and jokes.

Initiative Activity / Emmeline

In the initiative activity we did many challenges that pushed our teamwork abilities. Are groups split in half, and we were given different tasks to try and achieve. Afterwards we put the buckets of water we had from the previous tasks to have a water fight which was great in the hot weather.

Chewing the Fat / Charlotte

"Chewing the fat" focused on connecting with our peers, learning new ways to focus and relax our minds, and learning new things about one another. We were asked to bring in an object that was meaningful to us and we had to explain why our item was important to us. This activity made us learn more about each other and our passions. We shared our stories with each other and gained a deeper understanding of each other's values. It was a great way to bring us closer together.

Get over It / Aidan

Back on campus my group of boys and I went to our first activity being “Get over it" which included us building a bridge with limited supplies and having all the boys standing on it and getting squished up, and we ended up playing jenga with the bridge after we ripped it apart. The main message of the “Get over it”activity was to identify your life challenges and the ‘building a bridge’ was symbolic of building a bridge and working together to overcome challenges.

Blast from the past / Kate

“Blast from the past” was an activity led by Miss Renshaw, where we wrote out a script for our future self and went outside to record ourselves reading out the script. This video will be shared with us when we are in Year 12 - which will be interesting (and possibly embarrassing?!) to view.

Box and Breathe/ Isabella

Box and breathe was an amazing on campus activity hosted by Mr. Ellul. It consisted of boxing with a partner, one holding the holding punch pads, and the other with the gloves. We also ran back and forth along the hall. Afterwards, we had to unwind and relax with mindfulness and breathing exercises that helped de-escalate after boxing and running. This activity made us more aware about how our bodies make irrational decisions when escalated and heightened. It taught us how to be more mindful and make wiser decisions when our bodies are fired up. Overall this activity taught us how to regulate ourselves and focus on the present moment. 

Thank yous / Bonnie & Isabella

We want to give a big thanks to Mr Ellul, year 10 helpers and all the other teachers who were involved in organising and planning the day.

Mrs Wendy Isemonger