Middle School Retreats Build Community

Middle School students in 5th and 7th grade recently completed their grade-level retreats, which are important to building community and fostering connections within the Middle School. They are designed to help students establish connections with their classmates, foster leadership, step out of their comfort zones, and engage in self-reflection. Middle School retreats for 6th and 8th grade students will occur later this school year. 

5th Grade Retreat

The annual 5th grade retreat was a jam-packed day of activities at nearby Schlitz Audubon Nature Center. Students participated in canoeing and a study of reptiles and amphibians, as well as a study of Lake Michigan and the watershed.  

7th Grade Retreat

The 7th grade retreat was an overnight experience at the YMCA Camp MacLean in Burlington, Wisconsin. The students gained outdoor educational experiences, learned to better communicate with teachers and each other, built trust as a 7th grade class, and experienced unique physical challenges that included high- and low-rope course activities. The two-day schedule was designed to keep students active through outdoor activities that required teamwork and cooperation, along with problem-solving and physical challenges. Football, soccer, volleyball, ga-ga ball, and basketball were also available.  

Special thank you to Middle School faculty and staff members Kessia Andersen, Cheryl Bair, Tim Bartz, Melissa Beihoff, Anne Davis, Brad Dunning, Elaine Griffin, Brenda Helm, Elina Kats, Jordan Macak, Brian Markwald, Kaela McKeon, Nick Parmelee, Hannah Reimer, and Emily Vruwink ’04 for their work to make both grade-level retreats happen, and to the school nurses, Jaymi Holland and Therese Polewski, for ensuring that all students had a safe experience.