Every spring, PDS freshmen embark on a rite of passage: the Peer Group Retreat, where they stay overnight in cabins and participate in fun, engaging activities. The retreat is the culmination of the Peer Group (PG) program, a way for the freshmen and senior leaders to enjoy one final major event before Senior Send-Off.

Freshman Naavya Trivedi, a member of PG 9, recounted her apprehension going into the retreat: “My expectation for the lip sync was honestly pretty low, since my group didn’t have a lot of time to practice, but it ended up being super fun.” However, she added that she “didn’t really like the part where we had to make our bodies into machines… to me, that was a little boring, I would rather do something where I could move a little more, or something more challenging.”

Senior Anna Burke, a leader of PG 2, expressed that she enjoyed “going on the hike and taking pictures, playing games like ships and sailors and blob tag.” Fellow senior Mariana Lee, a leader of PG 5, shared, “I think this year’s retreat was really great… I liked it a lot more than the one I had my freshman year.” She noted that in her freshman year, her group wasn’t very close, while this year, it felt as though the entire group had bonded.

Peer Group faculty advisor Thomas Quigley, also known as Q, echoed her sentiment, voicing, “The freshmen have spent so much time with their seniors… this familiarity over the course of the year allows them to know each other and share with each other.”

There were a number of changes this year, with notable examples being that the retreat was pushed back to after spring break and was extended by a couple hours, as noted by Q.

As the next generation of Peer Group Leaders prepare to take on the mantle, Burke advises that they “put in the extra time to make a really engaging lesson plan… because before you know it will be over. Peer group is a unique experience and you probably won’t do anything like it again so really don’t waste it.” Lee encourages future Leaders to “go out there with an open mindset, try to get to know all your kids, be the best leader for them, and be there for them if they need anything. It’s your last year of school, so enjoy it.”