For a number of years, the focus for the Year 11 Retreat has been on Service. This year the Service had an environmental focus. The students attended three workshops as part of the programme – one on Laudaro Si’, a papal encyclical on the environment; one exploring the wonders of the cosmos; and another engaged in practical work in the wetland/community gardens that are part of Te Waipuna Puawai, which is part of the Mercy Ministries. The girls cleared a full skip of garden waste from the wetlands which was amazing!