Class Adventures
OUTDOOR RETREATS CREATE LASTING MEMORIES
“Retreats should be a balance of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone whilst also sitting in the comfort of community,” explained Eve Kulbieda, Castilleja’s new Upper School Dean of Students. Every year, each grade embarks on an overnight sojourn to learn about one another outside the classroom, build trust, and set grade-level norms. It’s this trust that forms the foundation for a warm and supportive experience around the Circle. Collaborating with the Class Deans, Mrs. Kulbieda and Tiffany Crist-StudleyHA, Middle School Dean of Students, have developed a retreat program that centers on enhancing the student experience at each juncture of adolescence. MIDDLE SCHOOL On retreat, students take risks together to deepen their self-confidence, learning, and relationships. Middle School retreats are intentionally focused on the grade-level themes–Exploration, Identity, and Engagement–so that students develop a strong sense of self as they learn to be part of a larger community. For example, 7th graders practice risk-taking and teamwork through a high ropes course in the Santa Cruz mountains. Over the course of the two days away from campus, it is Ms. Crist-Studley’s hope that retreats enable students to “take a step back from academics and focus on social and emotional growth.” 10 | Castilleja School
UPPER SCHOOL Upper School retreats focus on community-building and leadership. The 9th Grade Dean facilitates activities that build a positive culture so that returning and new students begin high school as a cohesive class. Sophomores kayak in Half Moon Bay, reflect on their North Star, and bond with their advisory groups. In the spring, juniors engage in discussions about their vision for their upcoming final year around the Circle. Finally, two weeks before graduation, seniors enjoy a last celebratory hurrah together. SPACE FOR CONNECTIONS Participating in collaborative games and activities–such as performing goofy skits–builds strong bonds between students and adults. Spending time off campus together allows advisors to learn about students outside the classroom and grants students the opportunity to see adults in a less formal setting. At Castilleja, students are more than their accomplishments and teachers are more than their courses. Retreat naturally softens the traditional student-teacher dynamic, “creating space for vulnerability, empathy, and trust-building that is crucial to fostering a learning environment in which students can thrive,” reflected Mrs. Kulbieda.
