Meaningful Experiences That Build Community

Middle School Overnight Field Trips

A hallmark of the Middle School experience at Holy Child School at Rosemont are the grade-level overnight field trips that serve as opportunities for hands-on learning and, more importantly, building community. In new and

unfamiliar settings, often set in nature, the playing field is leveled, allowing students to connect and form friendships while canoeing through wetlands, learning wilderness survival skills, and exploring museums. Physical and team-building activities keep our students active and engaged on each trip and provide a safe environment for encountering new challenges, spurring “aha” moments and personal growth. The overnight component of each trip instills independence in our students as they spend a few nights away from home, and problem-solving becomes a natural part of the experience.

Each grade level has its own unique overnight trip and setting. During the fall, Grade 5 visits Camp Mason, a 460-acre site managed by the YMCA and located adjacent to the 70,000-acre Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area; and Grade 6 travels south to Echo Hill, a 250-acre farm consisting of sunny fields, woodlands, and marshes located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Grades 7 and 8 come together each spring for a combined trip, and in May 2022, they visited Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for three full days of cultural and historical experiences.

Throughout each trip, faculty observe students forming closer connections and friendships with their classmates, ultimately creating a greater sense of community within the grade. The chaperones for each trip include homeroom teachers, and the evidence of these connections extends beyond the confines of the overnight trip and into the classroom. Middle School faculty member Jessica Shorten P’25’26’27 has chaperoned these trips in the past and observed, “Overnight field trips allow our Holy Child students and teachers to get out of the formal classroom environment and connect in ways that would not normally happen during a regular school day. On these trips, there are bonds that are formed among classmates and teachers that are invaluable…[allowing] our students and teachers to develop a deeper sense of community. These trips help foster our Holy Child mission.”

Two Grade 5 students enjoy canoeing at Camp Mason.

Hallmarks of

Holy Child

The Class of 2034 welcomes Mr. Lengel into their classroom for storytime.

1. The Class of 2032 brings in their favorite stuffed animals to honor the feast of St. Francis, the patron saint of animals.

2. The Class of 2031 enjoys recess with friends after the St. Teresa’s Day assembly.

3. The Class of 2030 eagerly browses books at the annual Book Fair.

4. Mrs. Logan helps the Class of 2028 explore the capabilities of a microscope during science class.

5. The Class of 2027 performs a song during the St. Patrick’s Day prayer service.

6. The Class of 2026 leaves for Camp Mason, their first Middle School overnight trip. 7. The Class of 2024 builds community within their class through hands-on activities at the start of the school year.

8. During their annual Grade 8 leadership retreat, the Class of 2023 reflects on their roles as leaders in the school community through small-group discussions and prayer.

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Growing Our Community:

New Holy Child Faculty and Staff

This summer, we welcomed new faculty and staff to the Holy Child School at Rosemont community. These individuals are already making a positive impact in their respective divisions and departments, and we look forward to the ways in which they will contribute to our school now and in the future.

Back row, left to right: Craig Berman (Middle School Science Teacher), Caryn Blum (Middle School Art Teacher, fall term), Allison Emery (Parents’ Liaison), Tracy Gabor (Grade 4 Long-Term Substitute Teacher), Julie Whitaker (Middle School Math Teacher), and Pat Walsh (Middle School Language Arts & Social Studies Teacher).

Front row, left to right: Megan Hope (Advancement Assistant), Victoria Boland (Communications & Marketing Associate), Hannah Hicks (First-Grade Assistant), and Rebecca Murray (School Counselor).

Left to right: Elena Pike (Controller), Raichl Davenport (Independent School Teaching Fellow, fall term), and Catrina Simmons (Housekeeping Site Manager).