The start of the school year is always a chaotic time for students, teachers, and parents. Grade retreats are just another stressor that is put onto the Greenhills community in the first few weeks of school. The last few weeks of August, parents and students are frantically gathering school supplies and purchasing textbooks, while teachers have to get back into the practice of organizing lessons and classes. Everyone is trying to adjust to the routine of early morning alarms and sitting in class all day, when suddenly–just a few weeks into the year–we get a two-to-three-day seemingly peaceful break before being hit by a bombardment of homework, tests, and projects.

Faculty members, students, and alumni constantly praise the two-day getaway we call grade retreats. Every year, each grade treks hours away to their respective locations for fully packed itineraries and bonding time. They are often viewed as the highlight of the school year, and they truly are a unique aspect of the school that everyone can appreciate. The one complaint I have is the timing of these trips. Grade retreats would be more appreciated and more fun if they were at the end of the school year rather than the start. 

Having grade retreats right at the beginning of the school year overshadows the memories we make. For the first few weeks of school, all we can talk about is where we’re going and what we’re doing on the retreats. Then, as soon as we get back, we’re expected to resume our classes like we never left. We don’t need to take a breather from school right after it started again. Let us have the retreat when we desperately need the break.

This year, because school started after Labor Day, we had even less time before we were off on the trip. It felt like my teachers were trying to cram in material so we could test on the first unit before we left. Cutting or increasing the pace of important foundational topics in a curriculum doesn’t benefit anyone involved. If they don’t rush through before retreat, then we have loads of homework that builds up the week after. 

The amount of work our grade deans put into the organization of these grade retreats each year is astronomical. While students are off enjoying their summers, each dean has to exchange emails and calls to ensure we have a good experience in the fall. Each new trip planned requires additional work to ensure the space can accommodate 100+ students and advisors. Booking campsites, hotels, and activities is no easy feat, and they continue to do it for us every year. Having the outline of previous trips helps, but there’s still much to organize. Confirming days, planning out when is the best time, determining how much time to spend at each place, and creating the itinerary requires a lot of effort. Plus, that all has to be done before the year starts. Once we all get to school, there’s a frenzy of forms for parents to fill out as well as room and bus assignments to organize. The start of the school year is difficult enough without having to worry about these extra tasks that get added to our plates and theirs. 

I have always had a great experience at the grade retreats. Between late-night cabin talks freshmen year, tent set-up attempts sophomore year, advisory competitions junior year, and the independence and free time from senior year, the memories I have made on these trips are irreplaceable. But, as a freshman, my experience would have been more enjoyable had it been later in the year. New students don’t have the opportunity to really get to know people before they’re suddenly supposed to room with people they can barely call friends. Luckily, I was in a position where I had a group I felt comfortable rooming with, but during the day, I barely knew the random kids in my activity groups. Although they allow new students to get to know their classmates, you need time before you can truly appreciate spending time together. If it were later, I would have known more people and had a better time, regardless of the random groups I was thrown into.

Some people may argue that having grade retreats in the fall provides a fun way to start off the year. But wouldn’t it be even better to end the year with that fun experience? Rather than having the constant stress during AP and finals season, you get a break to spend quality time with your grade. 

The alternative timing could take place before spring break, shortly after spring break, the period between AP week and finals, or going on a trip right after finals end. There are, of course, pros and cons to each option. The weather may not be ideal before spring break, although that is when eighth graders go on their D.C. trip, so it’s possible to do. After spring break may not be the best alternative, as it brings up the same issue of a break when we don’t necessarily need one. The last few weeks in May would be such a relief for juniors and sophomores to have time to relax after their APs before the hurricane of finals begins. A retreat right after finals would also be enjoyable. I’ve never enjoyed how we don’t have any traditions for the last day of school like we did in elementary and middle school. It would be a great way to start off the summer and relieve ourselves from a difficult school year. For seniors, it would give them one last chance to spend time with each other before heading their separate ways.

As a senior, when I think back on my time at this school, the grade retreats are some of the most memorable moments I have had with my class. I would love to have the ability to end my time at this school surrounded by the grade that has supported me throughout high school. Changing grade retreats would reduce the back-to-school stress for everyone, give us something to look forward to, and allow students to celebrate another successful year.