The start of middle school meant for Zoe a block schedule, a locker, and a bunch of new teachers – and an overnight retreat. For the second day of school she and her classmates headed to Mt. Cross Camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains and, as described in the school newsletter:

…The camp became a community of middle schoolers advisory team building. In their advisory groups, students designed advisory flags—which represented the individual grade-level themes based on the Brandeis community values of kindness, integrity, and service—and presented them at the evening camp fire. And, of course, what would camp be without pool hangouts, ropes courses, and games of gaga, basketball, volleyball, and boomer ball?

On the final morning before departing the retreat for Brandeis, students participated in an experiential tefillah that included meditation, singing, yoga, and discussions around mindfulness and gratitude. “The retreat sets the tone for community building and expectations around communication, trust, and kindness that we hope to deepen as the year of learning continues,” says Dr. Tarle, head of middle school. “It’s also an amazing opportunity for advisors to develop really important bonds with their students as they become the cornerstones of much of their journey in the year to come.”

-M

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