Year 11 Day of Recollection

On a rain-soaked Monday morning, Year 11 students, along with Ronan, our Chaplain, the Year 11 tutor team, Mrs Baker and Mrs Fletcher, headed off through the flooded roads to Ashburnham Place for their annual Day of Recollection. To recollect is ‘to bring back to the level of conscious awareness’ and this year’s focus was built around our Year 11 Cornelian principle of Gratitude. 

Ronan led the first part of the day where the girls focused on gratitude, its true meaning and started their own gratitude journals. Practising gratitude improves physical and psychological health, enhances empathy and helps reduce stress. The girls were certainly grateful for the indoor part of their day as the rain continued to hammer down! 

As we headed towards lunchtime the staff at Ashburnham Place took over and the girls were led to the kitchen garden and barn space. They were split into groups and collectively explored outdoor art, learned how to make a fire, and foraged for their own lunch ingredients. A group of 10 made delicious flatbread from three simple ingredients, while the remainder used the ingredients found, along with some simple spices, to make four delicious soups. We all broke bread together and shared a delicious meal before walking and taking in the beautiful estate surroundings. It was such a privilege to spend the day with Year 11, to take them away from the stresses of their study and see them sit back and reflect on life’s pleasures. There was plenty of laughter and smiles, with students working collaboratively and sharing in the joy of one of their favourite pastimes—eating!

Thank you to Ronan, the staff at Ashburnham, the tutors and Mrs Baker for their time and effort in making it a truly memorable and enjoyable day.