Click on the above image for more photos from the Respect Retreat.
November 12, 2024 — Mound Westonka High School ninth graders and senior Link Crew leaders took part in the annual Ninth Grade Respect Retreat on Nov. 8 at the Westonka Activity Center. Put on by the nonprofit organization Youth Frontiers, the Respect Retreat inspires students to build a positive community where all students can thrive socially, emotionally, and academically.
In a memo to parents, MWHS Principal Jolene Herfel said the Class of 2028 will continue to hear from their school that their “Presence Matters.” In addition, students are challenged to “Show Up” in a manner that best represents themselves, their class and the entire school. “Nothing replaces each student’s active engagement,” said Herfel.
The annual retreat is a great day for everyone involved. The students really embraced the spirit of the day, which had them discuss and reflect on the ideas of respecting themselves, respecting each other and standing up for respect. The goal of the activities throughout the day was to enhance self-confidence, empathy, and connectivity.
Students participated in fun, energetic activities featuring team-building exercises, small group dialogues, powerful presentations and large group sharing. The retreat focused on creating a more positive school community by engaging students in a variety of activities that build students’ empathy and perspective-taking skills. Retreat staff also offered safe ways to help prevent a negative school climate.
There were large group activities and songs performed by the Youth Frontiers presenters, small group discussions with senior Link Crew leaders, and a powerful and meaningful closing presentation.
With a combination of high-energy activities, great music, and small group discussions, the goal was for each student involved to be positively impacted by the activities throughout the day, said Dean of Students Jennifer Bormes.
“This year's ninth grade retreat was a great day for everyone involved,” she said. “MWHS is lucky to have a strong group of senior Link Crew leaders who had a blast leading the ninth graders throughout the day.”
Many ninth-grade teachers, paras, and administrators were in attendance throughout the day to observe and participate during the retreat.
The most important goal of the retreat, according to organizers, is to remind students that they matter and that there is a supportive community of educators, mentors, and classmates around them. Youth Frontiers challenges students with the message that someone acting with character does not make fun of, bully, or torment anyone for any reason. Retreat leaders feel that participation in the retreat results in cognitive, attitudinal, and behavioral shifts that decrease students’ distractions from learning and build a positive school community.
From the fun of the day, and the messages and stories that the Youth Frontiers leaders share about respect, the ninth graders walk away with a positive memory created at the retreat that is part of their journey at MWHS.
“The ninth graders really embraced the spirit of the day, while discussing and reflecting on the ideas of respecting themselves, respecting each other, and standing up for respect,” said Bormes.
About Link Crew
The Link Crew program provides the structure for eighth and ninth graders to receive support and guidance from juniors and seniors who have been through the challenges that high school poses and understand that the transition to a larger school can sometimes be overwhelming. The Link Crew is led by MWHS staffers Jennifer Bormes, Molly Carlson, Meagan Lenz, Wendy Richards, and Sara Schwartz.
