CBC Fremantle’s newest recruits have risen to the challenge of a disrupted first week of high school to find their feet in their new community.
While face masks might have been the most obvious change to the week’s programme, the entire schedule had been under constant scrutiny by the College’s leadership team over the last two weeks to ensure the Class of 2026 wouldn’t feel disadvantaged by the circumstances.
COVID-19 restrictions meant CBC’s traditional guard of honour welcome was delayed, but staff and students stepped up to make sure the newest members of the College community would feel just as welcome.
On Monday morning the cohort was divided in two, with Kelly, Morgan and Patrick Houses preparing for a two-night camp, while the gentlemen of Rice, O’Connor and Samson settled into the routine of high school life.
After a short introduction by Principal Mr Domenic Burgio and their son’s Head of House, it was time for some tearful hugs and kisses goodbye as emotional family members wished their young men well for a day they are sure to remember for life.
Not long after the Year 7 gentlemen met their buddy, a Year 11 or 12 student, who will help guide their younger peer throughout 2021 as they settle into the routine of high school.
The young men of the Class of 2026 looked on in awe as their older buddy effortlessly showed them how to organise their locker, open their lock and find their way around the historic halls of CBC Fremantle.
As their buddies went off to their own classes, Mr Burgio returned to guide the Year 7 students along the recently-completed Edmund Rice Walk.
The walk features three stations which each help new members of the community understand what it means to be part of a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition.
The first station, a mosaic of the Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) touchstones and a sculpture of Blessed Edmund Rice, highlights the unique features of an education in the Edmund Rice tradition, and serves as a reminder of the Whadjuk land the College is built upon.
The second, a series of seven pillars, tell the story of Edmund’s life, as well as the influential women who inspired him along his own journey.
The final station is a water feature etched with EREA’s apology to survivors and victims of sexual abuse, where the new students were reminded of how important it is that they feel safe at all times, and told of the work being done to ensure that happens.
During the rest of the day the gentlemen had the chance to make plenty of new friends and learn more about how to make the most of their time at CBC Fremantle.
A daring adventure
Meanwhile, at Forest Edge camp, the remainder of the cohort were supported to step outside their comfort zones to make new friends and try their hand at an array of challenging activities.
From the beginning the gentlemen were their new mates’ biggest cheerleaders, encouraging them to make the daunting descent down the abseiling wall, take a leap of faith off the pamper pole, or go soaring through the air on the flying fox.
In between, the gentlemen were also responsible for serving meals and cleaning up afterwards, in between making plenty of new friends.
After each activity, boys spent some time reflecting on what they had learnt about themselves, and others, and how they can apply those lessons to their lives after returning home.
They also had time to reflect on the day as a whole each night, before celebrating a special liturgy under the stars on their final night at the camp.
An invigorating Retreat
Another important part of the transition week was a day-long Retreat named ‘The Call to Belong’.
The Retreat helps solidify the boys’ understanding of what it means to be a CBC gentlemen, the idea of the CBC journey, and the EREA touchstones.
During the day, the gentlemen also spent time reflecting on how they are called to participate in the CBC community, while also being exposed to different forms of prayer and reflection.
“Help us to accept, encourage and serve one another,” the boys prayed in the Retreat’s opening prayer.
A key part of the Retreat was a series of conversations the gentlemen had with their House Captains, who shared their reflections on what it means to be a CBC gentleman, and the wisdom they have developed over their last five years at the College.
The Class of 2026 will begin regular classes on Monday after a special ceremony to formally welcome them into the College community.
Over the year the gentlemen’s teachers and older buddies will continue to help them settle into their new school, showing the young men how to make the most of their time at the College, while also growing into a CBC gentleman.
