Gallery • 13 Photos

Alyssa McAdams

A senior advocacy competes to build the most creative and detailed sand castle. “I liked the group aspect of [the activity] because we were all coming together as a team to create one thing and it was nice to see everyone collaborate,” senior Arman Shah, a member of the winning advocacy, said. “We all got so hyped when our sand castle won.”

To start the 2024-2025 school year, Menlo’s 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders embarked on retreats between Monday, Aug. 26, and Tuesday, Aug. 27. 

Ninth grade students went on a day trip to Redwood Glen Salvation Army Camp on Monday and partook in class meetings and grade-bonding activities on campus Tuesday, but their retreat did not include an overnight stay.

Sophomores explored the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on Monday before spending the night at Happy Valley Conference Center. They went back to the Boardwalk Tuesday to play a game inspired by The Amazing Race.

Juniors headed to YMCA Camp Jones Gulch, where they participated in engagement and authenticity programming as well as class-wide games.

Seniors traveled to NatureBridge Golden Gate Retreat Center at Fort Cronkhite, a WWII army post in Marin county. The 12th grade retreat largely centered around free time to allow students to bond throughout the trip.

Bianca Putanec, Elaina Huang and Eleanor Kinder contributed reporting.