Sep 8, 2005

Day School Retreat Focuses On Respect, Dignity Holds Annual Retreat For Students

By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR

Reprinted with permission from the Tampa Tribune

Fred Mahusay, a technology teacher at Independent Day School, along with other teachers at the school, work with students attending a middle school retreat Wednesday at the school.

Two weeks ago, the Independent Day School sixth-graders crossed the street from the private school many of them had attended as younger students and started their middle school careers.

On Wednesday, they returned to their old campus, walking into the school conference center to a standing ovation from their new classmates of seventh- and eighth-graders.

Administrators had set aside the conference center for a daylong retreat for middle school students. Part pep rally, part workshop and part heartfelt sharing, the retreat is an annual event that has earned national recognition.

Last year, it won a "Promising Practices" citation from the Character Education Partnership, a nonpartisan group that honors approaches schools take to teaching values and ethics. It gives students a chance to learn about the atmosphere Independent Day School wants to create, set goals and appreciate differences.

Holding it at the beginning of the year helps students new to the private school as well as those leaving Independent Day's elementary program. Orange Grove Drive divides the middle and elementary programs, and although they are a short walk from each other, going from fifth to sixth grade can be tough.

"The transition across the street is big," said teacher Lynne Grigelevich.

By the end of the retreat, teachers hope the students have a shared vocabulary of the terminology the staff uses. They know to model positive behaviors when asked to live "above the line" and what it means to "choose your attitude," teacher Betty George said.

Katie Rocco, 12, a 7th grader at Independent Day School, reads aloud her thoughts on a film the students attending a middle school retreat Wednesday at the school observed. The retreat helps enforce and teach the students about mutual respect and dignity for each other. CANDACE C. MUNDY

Katie Rocco, a seventh-grader, said the retreat last year taught her to set goals, such as getting her homework done. This year, she said, they talked about assessing goals, commitment and taking action.

"It kind of teaches you how to go through the school year," said Katie, 12.

Head of Schools Joyce Swarzman moderated the retreat, striding across a platform with her microphone like a motivational speaker. Students sat at tables of 12, breaking into smaller groups to discuss feedback and journal entries. When prompted, some stood and read their thoughts to all 177 students.

Greg Tomlin, 11, said he learned from one video: "If you have a positive attitude and don't give up, you'll get what you're looking for."

Snacks and "brain exercises" broke up the day. Eighth-graders led an exercise where students punched the air, Tae Bo-style, across their chests, an activity designed to get both sides of the brain working.

When some began to fidget and chat, Swarzman drew them back to the retreat's purpose.

"This is about building an environment of dignity and respect," Swarzman said. "This is all practice."