On Friday, September 27, our 8th-grade class attended its annual Secondary School Retreat hosted at the Pottstown Campus of Montgomery County Community College. Students completed workshops related to the different parts of the Secondary School application process.

The retreat was coordinated by Mr. Edleman, who had assistance throughout the day from Mrs. Fretz. A special thank you to Mrs. Farnsworth and Ms. Walker for running our mock interview sessions.

The sessions throughout the day covered everything from essay writing tips and interview techniques to advice on letters of recommendation and standardized test prep. The retreat aimed to equip students with practical skills, along with the confidence they will need for their next steps. The eighth graders really stepped up, showing enthusiasm and dedication as they got a taste of what’s ahead in the secondary school application process.

Students walked away from the retreat with an SSAT Prep notebook, which they will be using both in class and at home to prepare for exams. Students also received useful resources: a shortened SSAT practice test, sample interview questions, and prompts for admissions essays, all the tools they need to start feeling confident about their applications.

Student feedback was gathered through the mock interview report cards and closing survey. This feedback will be used to better support each student in their individual journey and allow for personalized guidance through the admissions process.

Most importantly from the retreat, students were reminded that this process isn’t about competing with one another. It’s about supporting each other and celebrating everyone’s successes. The coordinators running the retreat were proud of how the students embraced that mindset.

Secondary School Retreat 2024