As we embark on a new school year, Latin Upper School students participated in grade-level retreats, an important tradition that marks the start of each new grade. The retreats give students a chance to connect with their peers, reflect on their experiences and focus on what lies ahead.

9th Grade Retreat
Latin’s newest Upper School students traveled to Dickson Valley Park in Newark, Illinois, for an overnight retreat filled with indoor and outdoor activities. Students canoed on the Fox River, enjoyed relaxing jam sessions in hammocks and spent time getting to know their classmates and faculty.

The Class of 2030 also looked ahead to their four years in the Upper School, reflecting on what they hope to experience and accomplish and writing letters to their future selves that they will receive as seniors. The retreat gave new and returning Romans time to build relationships, set goals and start their Upper School experience together.
 

10th Grade Retreat
For 10th graders, the retreat focused on community engagement and time together as a class. On Thursday, students traveled throughout Chicago to volunteer with organizations that included Share Our Spare, Misericordia, the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Sunrise Senior Living. They also reflected on their experiences and set community engagement goals for the year ahead.

On Friday, students headed to the beach for games, swimming and a chance to spend time together.

11th Grade Retreat
During their retreat, members of the junior class explored career paths while reflecting on their individual interests and goals for the future. Students met with Latin alumni and interviewed them about their experiences, using the question “What does success mean to you?” to guide their conversations.

The discussions offered students a chance to hear different perspectives on life after Latin as they begin thinking more intentionally about their own paths. Learn more about the Junior Retreat, a Latin tradition.

12th Grade Retreat
Seniors traveled to Camp Duncan for an overnight retreat focused on team building and spending time together with their classmates and faculty. Students challenged themselves with outdoor activities including kayaking, high- and low-ropes courses, swimming and a scavenger hunt, while also enjoying time together around the bonfire.

The experience gave seniors a chance to strengthen relationships and build on the bonds they have formed throughout their years at Latin.

We look forward to seeing what our Upper School students accomplish in the year ahead!

“What does success mean to you?” 

Thirty-two alumni across Chicago were asked this central question during the Junior Class Retreat on Thursday, August 27, and Friday, August 28.

Juniors were tasked with visiting alumni at their workplaces or coffee shops to interview them about their definitions of success. The goal was to give students the opportunity to learn about the diverse paths alumni have taken since their time at Latin and to hear firsthand how their perspectives on success have evolved.

While the retreat has become a junior-year tradition, this year it was expanded so that students could use two days to carry out their interviews. The Alumni Office recruited 18–19 alumni hosts each day, for a total of 32. Of those 32 alumni, 20 volunteered for the retreat for the first time.

Students visited a wide variety of workplaces across Chicago, including Chicago City Hall, McDonald’s headquarters, the Adler Planetarium, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, the Joffrey Ballet and the Consulate General of Japan. Juniors also visited a number of alumni-owned businesses, including Crying Tiger, Berco’s Popcorn, Plot & Prose, The Romance Room podcast, Schatz Studio, Club Pilates Chicago and LVLUP Coffee.

While visiting their chosen locations, juniors got an inside look at their hosts' careers. At the Adler Planetarium, Ruthie Neumeier ’07 gave students a behind-the-scenes look at the workings of the museum. Ella McCann ’08 welcomed students to the Consulate of Japan with a traditional tea ceremony. Visiting City Hall gave students a special look at the chamber where Alderman Bill Conway ’96 works.

Students shared that they were exposed to new perspectives on success and enjoyed learning about the variety of experiences alumni brought to the conversations. Alumni were impressed by the thoughtful questions students asked and enjoyed hearing about the experiences and perspectives of current Latin students.

Thank you to all of the alumni listed below for the incredible support and contributions you have made to the Junior Class this year. 

 Drew Beres ’01, Jenny Cizner ’95, Catie Cronister ’16, Erin Hanlon ’95, Julianna Jarik ’13, Richard Mbouombouo ’17, Ella McCann ’08, Margie Muller ’13, Anne Rockey ’92, Julie Sarne ’12, Lincoln Schatz ’82, Abby Phelps ’98, Wendy Onofre-Shah ’09, Alexander Abell ’92, Bill Conway ’96, Amarit Dulyapaibul ’04, Kris Ekdahl ’03, Arianna Jamerson ’06, Tiffany Madigan ’96, Alexa Markman ’15, Ruthie Neumeier ’07, Alex Norrod ’10, Caroline Quazzo-Elnick ’08, Kelly Seeman ’95, Samantha Siegel ’12, Tyler Stratton ’09, Shelby Brody Ramirez ’11, Matt Bercovitz ’01, Charlie Gofen ’83, Shani Hebert ’96, Alex Schabel ’91, Tanarra Schneider ’92