Year 10 Reflection Day – Seeds of Hope: Compassion, Justice & Stewardship

Our Year 10 students recently took part in a meaningful Reflection Day, centred on the theme Seeds of Hope: Compassion, Justice & Stewardship. The day combined practical service, deep reflection, and prayer as students explored how small acts of kindness can grow into hope for others.

One of the highlights was the class task, Cooking for the Food Bank – Seeds of Hope in Action. Working in groups of 3–4, students spent an hour preparing either Bolognese or Napolitana sauce, which was then packed, labelled, and frozen to be donated to the Food Bank. This hands-on activity reminded students that preparing a simple meal can bring comfort, dignity, and hope to families facing hardship.

Beyond the kitchen, each House group had unique opportunities to connect faith with action: Chisholm students visited Parliament House, where they met with State Minister for Youth, Natalie Suleyman, engaging in discussion about serious issues such as domestic violence, bullying, and refugee and homelessness. Meanwhile, MacKillop students travelled to CERES Community Environment Park, where they explored how stewardship of creation calls us to care for the earth as part of our faith and responsibility for future generations.

The afternoon continued with small group discussions guided by the “See, Judge, Act” model. Using images, stories, and personal reflection, students explored issues of poverty, homelessness, and justice in our world. They connected their classroom learning and fundraising for the Ugandan school project with the practical service of the day, recognising the global and local impact of their actions.

To close, each group took part in a Seed Planting Ritual. Together, students planted seeds in a class pot—a symbol of their commitment to sowing hope through compassion, justice, and care for creation. These pots will remain in their classrooms as a living reminder of their faith journey and will later be brought to Sacred Heart Church as part of a communal prayer celebration.

The day concluded with a liturgy of thanksgiving, where students offered their reflections from their experiences at The Big Issue, Parliament, CERES, MacKillop Family Services, and the Food Bank. Through prayer, scripture, and symbolic action, they celebrated the many ways they had seen hope, courage, and compassion at work in the world.

Year 10 Reflection Day was a powerful experience that invited our students not only to reflect but to act—to become sowers of hope in their communities, guided by faith and a commitment to justice.