High School leaves Edgehill for class retreats
Students left 2000 Edgehill for three days away from screens and textbooks to build and strengthen class bonds and set intentions for the year ahead. For those who stayed behind in Nashville, photo albums from each grade-level are available; simply click the class retreat you’d like to view: freshman retreat, sophomore retreat, junior retreat, senior retreat.
By Sierra Smith, Communications Specialist
Zip lines, laser tag, kayaking, swimming, board games, karaoke, bonfires, s’mores, and more — August 31–September 2 were unlike typical school days for University School of Nashville High School students.
Grades 9–12 ventured off campus to camps in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia for class retreats. Students turned in their phones and spent the three days engrossed in engaging outdoor activities as well as thoughtful conversations focused on class identity, personal growth & goal setting, and bystander training to support the school’s community. And, seniors wrapped up their retreat with special guest Director Amani Reed as they were inducted into their final year as USN scholars.
“It’s been several years since these students could travel together; the much needed space and time away from their day-to-day routines and technology was critical to building community and creating conversations that would’ve been virtually impossible to have at school.”
On the final day of the retreat, students in each grade were tasked with reflecting on the days they’d just spent together through various exercises. Across the division, feedback was overwhelmingly positive with some common themes emerging.
“As someone who is new this year, the retreat really helped me feel like I belong at USN,” Ismael Moskinzada '26 said. “Within three days, I made three to four times more friends than I did in the first two weeks of school.”
“Without our phones, we didn’t have to worry about social media or what someone might be posting,” Lin Zheng '26 shared. “And being put into groups of people that you wouldn’t normally talk to helped us get out of our comfort zones and our usual circles to meet new people that we’ll continue to be friends with now that we’re back at school.”
For those who stayed behind in Nashville, photo albums from each grade-level are available; simply click the class retreat you’d like to view: freshman retreat, sophomore retreat, junior retreat, senior retreat.
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Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.