STAR weekend

The Seniors Transition and Adjustment Retreat has now been running for four years. Just before graduation, the Seniors go away for a few days of reflection and preparation for their move out of Woodstock. It is a time for reconciliation and building relationships in the light of the impending parting of the ways. It is a time for looking outward, and envisioning what opportunities and pitfalls are opening up. It is also a time for fun - a few precious days with nothing to do and no decisions to make, other than who should be the next person to be thrown into the swimming pool.

The Brentwood Sanctuary was again the venue for this retreat - a quiet valley location with a big house for the girls and tents for the boys, shamianas on the lawns and good food three times a day. And did I mention the swimming pool?

Alumni co-ordinator Chris Starr, together with volunteer Hannah Wildman, personal counsellor Brian Meyer and college counsellor Dan Koop Liechty took the lead in developing the programme, which was based on a "Survival" theme. Students completed a questionnaire designed to assess how much they knew about one another, and, on the basis of their scores, they were assigned to a "tribe" which mixed together those who were well linked to one another with those who were less engaged with their classmates. The topics covered included Third Culture Kids, assessing your personal relationship style, keeping safe, and issues around dating. There was also a session in which there was discussion of the college and life practicalities in the different destination countries.

On Sunday evening the advisors came out as guests for dinner, and were treated to tributes from their advisor groups in word, song and dance. And at least one was thrown in the pool, although no one would have dared submit Miss Chander to that indignity.