Students Strengthen Relationships with Each Other Ahead of Transition to Middle School

In September, 62 sixth-grade students embarked on a one-day retreat at Pinecrest wilderness camp in Moscow, Tennessee.

This is the second year for USJ sixth-graders to participate in this field trip to Pinecrest. It is an excellent bonding activity for students as they adjust to being the new kids on the Middle School campus. Memories and connections made here often last a lifetime and become some of the fondest moments for students at the University School of Jackson.

At Pinecrest, students participate in a series of physical, mental, and emotional challenges facilitated by trained instructors. Through these activities, they learn various social and emotional skills, including communication, overcoming failure, setting and achieving a shared goal, commitment to purpose, trust in classmates, and solving problems through teamwork. In addition, they reflected on their experiences throughout the day to make connections between the activities and leadership/character skills.

They worked together to overcome obstacles that enhance personal and group growth. The day was packed with back-to-back activities including hiking, low ropes courses, a rock climbing wall, spider web challenge (problem-solving activity), balance beam challenge (problem-solving with a partner), free fall (trust activity with a partner), and lunch together in the lodge. Each exercise was designed to highlight individual strengths and capitalize on coming together as a group which illustrates accomplishing things not possible on their own.

“My favorite activity was the spider web challenge,” said student Eliza Dorris. “I liked it because we all learned that we needed to communicate and listen to each other instead of just yelling directions.”

Each group is led by trained camp personnel. Not only do they lead the activity, but they also facilitate discussion after each one. This discussion is perhaps one of the biggest parts in that the students verbalize what they learned through the activity. “It’s fun to watch that ‘a-ha’ moment when they put it all together,” said sixth-grade English teacher Emily Morris who organized the trip.

“The transition to Middle School can be challenging; however, through guided activities on the team-building field trip, students build confidence and trust in their abilities while learning to work together to achieve a common goal,” said Middle School Director Margaret Livingston. “Our mission at USJ is to grow people, and through the Pinecrest field trip, growth comes through overcoming challenges and building confidence. Pinecrest sets students up to experience success and bring those leadership skills back to the classroom.

Moving into Middle School is a big adjustment for many students. There can be a degree of angst that accompanies this transition. By participating as a group, working together to solve problems, and stepping out of their comfort zones, students build relationships with each other and realize that they are not alone. Students have an opportunity to see firsthand that everyone has something to offer and is important. They learn to encourage each other and support one another to succeed. It is a beneficial day not only for those students who have been at USJ throughout the Lower School, but also for those students who join the USJ family for the first time in Middle School. Everyone starts on the same page – together.