Hartzer and Nous Sommes programs draw to a close

Our wonderful Hartzer and Nous Sommes programs came to a close earlier this month, and we welcomed all Issoudun students back on campus. 

The final week of the Hartzer program included a sleep out, a lovely day in Sydney, the Hartzer dash and a day of reflection on Retreat day. We’re grateful to our staff who make this unique eight-week program available to our Issoudun students.

Retreat day reflections

Hartzer Group 2 shared their reflections of the Retreat Day and what they learned from the Hartzer experience. 

"The retreat day was a fun day to reflect on our time at Hartzer. I enjoyed the positive games and activities we did, and how it was so interactive." - Anais

"The retreat day was a nice way to end Hartzer as it was calm and reflective. The entire experience was so enjoyable and felt normal, but looking back on where we started to how we have grown, it felt like such an achievement." - Syanne

"The retreat day was a great break. Being stressed about Canberra presentations, I didn't have the greatest mindset as I wanted that time for Canberra. I let all my stress go and had fun." - Heidi C

"Retreat day for me was a heart-warming experience and it meant a lot sharing with everyone and getting to know others better. I feel like it was a good way to conclude the trip and it was nice to have a relaxing day with your friends." -  Sienna

"The thing that I loved most about retreat was being able to be in our own space for some times but collaborate with new people that we haven't fully met. I loved how creative it was and how many different elements there were to the day - some art, some dance and some mindfulness." - Ivory

"The retreat day experience enabled me to reflect on my time at Hartzer and see just how much I had grown. In one of the activities, we were asked to write messages of affirmation to each member of our homeroom. Hearing the beautiful things people wrote about me became a highlight of my time and is a great thing to keep looking back at now that I am home." -  Samantha

"I thoroughly enjoyed retreat day. I found that I bonded with a lot of different people and got to reflect more deeply on my Hartzer experience. I think that it is really beneficial especially for the end of Hartzer." - Natasha

Heart projects on show 

The final week of the Nous Sommes program was included a walking cultural tour of Coburg, a cheerleading workshop in Highett and a Digital Technology activity focusing on food security. At the end of the week, the students presented their Heart projects to the College community. 

The students spent many hours thinking about and working on their projects, featuring topics that were close to their heart such as sustainable clothing and beauty product choices, horseriding, mental health and social media. They presented their work in a mini-expo format in our Performing Arts Centre, speaking to visitors and answering questions about their chosen topic.