The 7th and 8th graders recently went on a retreat last Wednesday, October 16th! While most of the school (except for the Seniors) had to take the PSAT’s, the 7th and 8th graders got to learn more about each other and bond through team-building exercises and other activities. 

During the retreat, according to the 7th grader Joshua D’Cruz, the 7th and 8th graders were separated, still doing pretty much the same things as each other, and took part in team-building exercises. A couple of the projects they did were trying to get all of the class in a net that was only four feet off the ground and trying to fit all of their classmates on a seesaw. They then did rock climbing followed by lunch and mass. Joshua D’Cruz said that the group learned how to accomplish tasks together and work faster if they all work in unison with each other. When they were doing the rock climbing exercise, they all cheered on their classmates who felt unsure and nervous about doing it, which helped the 7th graders have more trust in each other and also spread positivity. 

They learned that it’s better to work as a team because together they could face their fears and they realized how much easier it is to get a task accomplished if they all worked together. Joshua also noted that he learned what being 10 feet off the ground felt like, as did many other 7th and 8th graders as they tried new and exciting things together. Both classes generally liked the retreat, noting that it was fun to miss a day of school in order to bond and have fun with their friends. Overall, the 7th and 8th-grade retreat was a success, with many students feeling more confident and comfortable with their classmates and their environment!