Recently, SFHS students spent a few days at Constance Free Church in Andover volunteering at the Courage Retreat for St. Francis Middle School students.
The seventh grade students are split into three groups and they all attend the retreat. Each group has different high school Youth Teaching Youth volunteers and hosts from the Youth Frontier, a non-profit group that works to build positive communities by volunteering in schools. The students participate team building activities, watch plays, answer questions and then learn how to display courage and practice it.
“Going on the Courage Retreat was an amazing learning experience,” said sophomore Kass Nelson, “and it was really fun working with all the little kids.”
Senior Abilene Olson has attended the Courage Retreat three times now.
“[It is] important to make the Courage Retreat keep happening,” said Olson. “It gives you a lot to think about.”
Having participated in the retreat as a middle schooler, she thinks it’s important for students to go and lead when they are older as well.
“You have more time to mature, in seventh grade you’re still trying to figure out who you are.” said Olson, “You actually want to make the change and see it happen.”
Jacquelynn Schadewald was one of the seventh graders attending the Courage Retreat on Thursday October 31. One activity that stood out to her was the pebbles in the pond.
Throughout the day students learned how to display courage. At the end, the students all gathered in a circle and in the middle of the room surrounding a big glass bowl. Students could go up and share something with the other students and throw a pebble in the pond so they can see how their actions ripple out to affect others.
“One of my closest friends went up to put a pebble in the pond and apologized to all the people she had hurt and called names,” said Schadewald. “Before getting on the bus, she went up to a few kids and personally apologized and hugged them.”
Some kids took what they learned and applied it right away. While on the retreat each of the seventh graders had to write an act of courage on a piece of paper they plan on actually fulfilling.
“I went through a time where I wasn’t confident in myself, and I don’t want that to happen to others,” Schadewald said. “So I will compliment students at my school who have low self esteem”.
The Youth Teaching Youth leaders involved in the Courage Retreat hope that students will take their pledges seriously.
“It made me want to become a better person,” said Nelson, “and make friends with all different types of people.”
Along with the Youth Teaching Youth and Youth Frontier volunteers, several middle school administrators also attended. Since the courage retreat, staff members have noticed a difference in the students actions.
“We have seen a huge difference back at the building” said Bobbi Hume, middle school assistant principal. “Kids are more aware of each other, and understand what an impact they have on each other.”
Hume has participated in the Courage Retreat over 15 times.
“We are very grateful that the middle schools Sight Management Council makes it a priority and continues to pay for it,” said Hume, “I love going and seeing all the positivity and the energy level.”