Every year, the IBT Program continues the tradition of hosting a retreat for the Grade 9s, which took place on September 29, 2025, on the school tennis courts and field. Grade 9s attending the IBT Program attended the IBT Retreat as their first retreat. The purpose of this event was to allow the new grade 9s to connect with their peers and mentors and have a fun day.
This day was filled with creating new memories and friends and learning new skills. This IBT Retreat included many activities like tic-tac-toe, axe throwing, golf, shaka ball, murder mystery, and frisbee bottle toss. Grade 9s were randomly placed in groups and spent the day with their groupmates through team-building tasks.
Hetvi Patel, the Vice President of the IBT Program, said, “grade 12s were taught to give valuable lessons to the grade 9s.” The senior students led the younger students through the various activities, answering questions about high school and providing them with tips that will help them in the near future. A grade 12 mentor, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “Meeting new grade 9s was nice because I was able to give them advice on university and how they can do better on their courses. The event made me realize that I’m not a little kid anymore and that I’m a senior that people look up to.”
The IBT Retreat allows the grade 9s to have a kick start to their first year of high school. Ms. Fiocco, Head of the IBT Program, said that “grade 9s come alone from different schools, and the IBT Retreat helps them get to know each other, develop team-building skills, and bond with each other.” The retreat gave everyone a chance to step out of their comfort zones and try new activities.
Aishwarya Kapoor, a Grade 11 IBT Representative, said, “It is an opportunity for grade 9s and grade 12s to get to know each other and the program and get a first impression of it.”
By the end of the retreat, the grade 9s were able to bond with each other and their mentors more, setting them up for deeper relations in the future. Students left the retreat feeling more confident about their transition into high school. Once again, this tradition was a success and hopefully will be for the future years to come!
THE NORTH STAR 