Steward’s annual Middle School Community Week is filled with experiences beyond the traditional classroom. During this year’s Community Week, which took place September 16-20, Spartans spent time in nature, worked together in team-building activities, and engaged in service-learning activities. 

“Middle School Community Week is a terrific way for students to expand their worldview, get to know one another better, and experience some ‘challenge by choice’ activities,” said Middle School Director Susan Atkinson.   

To start the week, sixth graders enjoyed a team-building session led by Upper School Teacher Eliza McGehee and students in the Leadership Program. Ms. McGehee coordinates the program, along with the assistance of fellow Upper School Teacher Scottie O’Neill. Leadership students shared a little about the program opportunities and then led the sixth graders through stations that encouraged them to reflect on the definitions of leadership, their strengths, teamwork, and ethical situations. 

At the Sixth Grade Olympics, the opening ceremonies included warmup laps and mindful stretching … and lots of cheering! Spartans teamed up for scooter relays, tackled minute-to-win-it challenges, and a create-a-mystery-monster art project. The day ended with popcorn and an Olympics-themed movie: “Cool Runnings.”

At the University of Richmond, sixth graders had a chance to learn the ropes – literally and figuratively – when they participated in challenges on the U of R fields and high- ropes course, which Megan Welch ’31 really enjoyed.  

“Although it [the ropes course] was difficult, it was also extremely exciting and fun to get away from campus and have a nice bonding activity with our whole grade,” she said. “Community Week was different than any other experience I’ve had at Steward.”

An overnight trip to Triple C Camp in Charlottesville, Va. was an opportunity for seventh graders to take part in a variety of activities, including a climbing wall, ziplining, a night hike, teambuilding skits, and s’mores made over a campfire. The week also included field trips to Maymont and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. 

At Triple C Camp, Zoe Basmajian ’30 loved “being able to unplug and spend time in the mountains. And who better to enjoy it with than my friends and classmates?!” She added, “The Triple C staff kept us on our toes with creative team-building activities, including a challenge to adjust our center of gravity and scale a tower filled with obstacles.” Zoe also liked gathering around a campfire with her classmates. “It was nice to sit silently in the dark after a long day,” she said. 

 

At Wilderness Adventure in the Blue Ridge mountains, eighth graders embarked on four technology-free days. They tackled a ropes course, scaled a climbing wall, and tested their teamwork when canoeing. They also explored new terrain while riding mountain bikes and discovered the wonders of caving. Each evening, campers met in groups to debrief and play cards. 

“What I most enjoyed about Wilderness Adventure was the fishing,” said Tristan Rousch ’29. “It started with a couple of my friends and me, but after an hour almost the whole eighth grade was trying to catch a fish!” He added, ‘“Being in nature was great. This trip also made my friends and me closer. Wilderness Adventure is something I will never forget.”

Back on campus on the final day of Community Week, eighth graders worked together in the Bryan Innovation Lab Kitchen. Under the guidance of Coordinator of Service Learning and Engagement Alexa Bolt, they cooked delicious pans of lasagna, baked chocolate chip cookies, and assembled healthy salads that included vegetables from the Bryan Innovation Lab gardens. Ms. Bolt delivered the meals to the Safe Haven division of Daily Planet, a Richmond community health center that provides support services to populations in need.  

“When students learn about the wider community and those in need, they realize that even small projects, when rooted in empathy, care, and hands-on service, can elicit change,” said Ms. Bolt.