Seventh graders in Cary Academy’s Charger Trails program—named after the school mascot, a charger horse—are focused throughout the year on what does, or sometimes doesn’t, make collaboration work. There are student-led conferences to discuss goal-setting, a Thoughtless and Hurtful Language seminar, and a year-end trip to a YMCA camp in Black Mountain for more team building activities. Students begin by working in small groups and taking on a few challenges. Some are designed for failure, others for success, but everyone works collaboratively toward a solution.

One of this year’s activities, building a tower with spaghetti noodles and marshmallows, was frustrating at times, and some ideas didn’t work as expected. Students were taught language skills to facilitate their conversations, using phrases such as: “I hear what you said, but I wonder …” and “To follow up on her suggestion….”

Self-reflection is an important component of the program, so students discussed techniques they found helpful as well as habits that set the group back. “It was beneficial to work as a team to try to figure out a solution,” says Leah. “I learned to listen to everybody’s ideas and to build off them to make our tower the best it could be.” Follow-up prompts were given to parents, as well, to encourage continued conversations at home.

“The Charger Trails program is an integral part of our school’s commitment to nurturing the social/emotional growth of students,” says Middle School Head Marti Jenkins. “This curriculum embraces respect for self, others, and the environment, and empowers students to become confident, contributing members of their community.”