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2 Dec 2024

Redefining Leavers Week: Seton Students Create a Life-Changing Alternative

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At the end of 2023, two visionary Year 11 students, Ella and Jade, were the driving force behind Seton Catholic College’s recent ‘Alternative to Leavers Service Tour’ to Singapore and Thailand.

Recognising the need for a more impactful way to celebrate the end of Year 12, the pair proposed the idea to the Year 12 Student Council, who embraced it with enthusiasm.

Their journey didn’t stop there. Ella and Jade presented a detailed proposal to the College Leadership Team, impressing them with a thoughtful plan that included a suggested itinerary, budgeting, risk management and a service opportunity. Their initiative, combined with the concept of an ‘Alternative to Leavers’ proposed by Deputy Principal of Wellbeing, Jason Edmunds, culminated in a transformative and meaningful experience for twelve Year 12 students (who were accompanied by staff, Jason Edmunds and Peter Farrer-Smith and Tess Howieson), blending cultural immersion and community service.

The tour, which ran during Leavers’ Week, was presented to the Year 12 cohort as an enriching alternative to traditional Leavers. It included two days of sightseeing in Singapore before the group travelled to Thailand for a packed itinerary of activities.

Highlights ranged from tuk-tuk tours and cooking classes to bustling street markets and cycling adventures. However, the most profound experience was their two full days spent volunteering at the Marist Centre in Bangkok, where they connected with refugee children from Myanmar. The students saw how Seton’s $3,000 fundraising helps support the children with food, education, and uniform costs, forging unforgettable bonds despite language barriers. Students also packed their own travel bags frugally to ensure they could take donated laptops, sporting equipment, Lego and uniforms, which were specifically requested by the Sisters at the Centre as valuable resources.

Ella reflected on the experience:

“The Marist Centre was the highlight for me. The children were the most generous and heartwarming people I have ever met. Despite their hardships, they lit up the room with their infectious smiles. This experience put my life into perspective and showed me how powerful love truly is. It was life-changing and has forever shaped the mission I want to follow in life.”

“…Spending time with the Marist children was an experience she’ll remember forever. I hope more students take up this opportunity next year.”

Jade added:

“The trip taught me gratitude and the value of charity. Spending time with children my age who had so little changed my whole perspective on life. It also taught me independence as we navigated busy markets and cities, learning to look out for ourselves and each other.”

One parent expressed their appreciation for the initiative:

“This trip was a wonderful way for my daughter and her peers to celebrate graduating Year 12. Spending time with the Marist children was an experience she’ll remember forever. I hope more students take up this opportunity next year.”

Deputy Principal of Wellbeing, Jason Edmunds, highlighted the program’s significance: “This Alternative to Leavers Service Tour offers a way to celebrate that is both drug and alcohol-free and profoundly enriching. It provides students with skills and memories that will last a lifetime, all while embodying Seton’s values of Respect, Inclusion, Service, and Excellence.”

With the program’s success, planning is already underway for the 2025 Thailand Alternative to Leavers Service Tour. This initiative continues to gain momentum, offering students a fresh way to mark the transition from high school to adulthood. Seton is proud to be fostering innovative opportunities that reflect our motto, every interaction matters, preparing students to make a meaningful impact on the world.

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