Eighth Grade Goes to Washington

University School of Milwaukee’s 8th grade students recently participated in the pinnacle event of their Middle School experience: A week-long trip to Washington, D.C. The annual trip is a chance for 8th graders to see first-hand many of the city’s memorials, museums, and artifacts they have been studying for the past year in their 8th grade American History class taught by Chuck Taft. The event was postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19. 

The week, which served as the 8th grade retreat, was packed with activities and excursions. Some were serious and somber, like visits to the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Arlington National Cemetery, while others were more relaxed, like a cruise on the Potomac river and a Washington Nationals baseball game. This year, USM alumni who live in the D.C. area were invited to join 8th grade students for a guided tour of the national monuments.  

Retreats are an integral part of USM’s Middle School and Upper School experiences. While the locations and activities vary amongst grade levels, all retreats are designed to build community, foster leadership, and provide safe spaces where students can take risks and push themselves. Students in grades 5 and 7 participated in retreats in October, Upper School students had their retreats in September, and 6th grade students enjoyed a retreat in April. 

Many thanks to the faculty members and administrators who made the retreats possible.