52 Student Leaders Participate in Retreat

After arriving on campus last Thursday, settling into their dorm rooms, and having dinner, the leaders kicked off their retreat with a fun Welcome and Kickoff in Roomies, then it was off to get a good night's sleep before the busy days ahead. 

Student leaders were up bright and early Friday to get a good breakfast ahead of a series of breakout sessions scheduled throughout the day. Students engaged in a wide range of topics to enhance their leadership skills, including talking through gaps in their knowledge of cultures outside their own to build cross-cultural competency, learning the why/how of active listening, the importance of self-care, and the overlap and differences between leadership and mentorship. Dorm Whips and Prefects met to learn how to do an Open Session — a form of active listening — with Mrs. Moan. A final session brought all of the leaders together to discuss and create community norms to be shared with returning students. 

After dinner, the retreat ended with student leaders coming together to reflect on what they had learned from the various sessions by participating in an “Appreciation, Apology, or Aha circle.” 

The Office of Student Experience will provide opportunities throughout the year for leadership development, in addition to hosting a schoolwide leadership day in October.