Middle School Retreats

At the beginning of the school year, Middle School students strengthen friendships and develop community among advisory members through the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade retreats.

Each retreat is carefully designed to fit the needs and goals for each grade level, while offering fun adventures students remember for the rest of the year.

For one week, eighth graders traveled to Adventure Treks in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and hiked mountain trails, cooked beside campfires, rock climbed, and explored the vast nature around them.

The beautiful scenery was the perfect backdrop for advisory skits and getting to know their peers better.

During the seventh-grade retreat, students spent the start of the morning choreographing dances in their advisories before showcasing their talents on The Schiff Center stage before the whole grade.

Afterwards, students competed in relay races on the upper field and all-grade four square in Kalnow Gym before enjoying pizza for lunch and watching a movie in The Schiff Center to end the day.

The two-day sixth-grade retreat was filled to the brim with activities!

During the first day, students discussed “Two Degrees” by Alan Gratz, a book about four kids trying to survive three climate change disasters. Then, sixth graders became energy vampire hunters and discussed the importance of energy efficiency while gathering data from around the Middle School. Middle School Dean of Students Victor Harris also went over the boundaries and expectations of being in the Middle School.

On the second day, students had a blast at Main Event in West Chester, where they played laser tag, competed in arcade games, and bowled.

Whether it’s hiking mountains in North Carolina, dancing to pop songs on The Schiff Center stage, or hunting energy vampires, Middle School retreats enable students to have fun while stepping outside their comfort zone and build a stronger community within their grade.