Area 7th graders build character skills at retreat

All 7th grade students at Discovery Middle School (DMS) in Alexandria took part in a Respect Retreat in late October.

The event was facilitated by Sarah Reif, 7th grade dean of students at DMS, and Meghan Orgeman Crumb, a guidance counselor at Jefferson High School (JHS).

About 60 juniors and seniors from JHS served as leaders at the retreat. The high school students are involved in S.L.A.M!, a student leadership group dedicated to teaching younger students about healthy decision-making.

Students participated in fun, energetic activities featuring team-building exercises, small group and large group discussions centered on learning more about respect in a variety of settings. The activities encouraged students to use teamwork and problem-solving skills.

Each JHS student led a small group of about five students. Within these small groups, students had the chance to get to know each other and talk more in-depth about life as a 7th grader compared to life as a junior or senior in high school.

Each small group developed a mission statement centered on how they were going to carry what they learned back to DMS.

Small groups presented their missions and recorded their statements on a banner that will be hung in the 7th grade hallways at DMS.

The Respect Retreat inspires students to respect themselves, to respect others and to strive for respect at school.

Tags: life, education, character, skills, retreat, students