Pushing and Pulling

Reaching new heights together during the first QUEST program of the year.  

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On the first QUEST Saturday of the year, the freshmen pushed and pulled each other to succeed in the “Facing the Wall” challenge. Located in Pomfret’s low ropes course, behind the Jahn Rink, stands an approximately fifteen-foot wall. The challenge was to work together to get the members of the freshman class from one side of the wall to the other. One by one each new Griffin stepped off the ground, trusting in their classmates to raise them up, while other members of the class helped them up and over the wall. 

The wall is an obstacle that each class of freshmen takes part in and is a key component of the Community Pillar — one of the four QUEST pillars. The freshman will continue to focus on community before moving on mid-year to the Character Pillar. When they become upperclassmen they will shift to the pillars of Health and Wellness and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

Some components in the QUEST curriculum are an activity or game while others are presentations, speakers, and group discussions — like the juniors' “Common Ground” workshop. As part of the DEI Pillar, the group discussed names, identity, and intersectionality. They created visual representations of their names, drafted narratives, discussed how to share their story, and watch a brief film. The sophomores completed character assessments to identify their key characteristics to harness and build upon this year. In the Health and Wellness Pillar, the seniors focused on the mental health skills they would need in preparation for their final year at Pomfret. They attended workshops, led by student leaders, on topics such as healthy relationships, nutrition, exercise, gratitude, screentime, and sleep.

QUEST (Question - Understand - Engage - Share - Transition) is the cornerstone of our signature student life curriculum. This signature program that complements classroom learning is an important piece of Pomfret’s approach to educating students in mind, body, and spirit.