Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy sophomores concluded their sophomore retreat on September 11, 2026. The experience included class trips to sites all around Los Angeles such as Homeboy Industries, Dolores Mission School and a ropes course at Fulcrum Adventures. 

The retreat took place during FSHA’s school wide retreat week, a new event introduced this year. Last year’s sophomore retreat spanned only one day, so having a longer retreat was a bit of an adjustment, but many sophomores seemed to support the decision. 

“I kind of liked it because it felt like I could really take time to enjoy the retreat,” Eily Sullivan ‘29 says of the lengthened retreat experience. 

Over the course of the three-day retreat, the FSHA sophomores traveled together to different parts of the Los Angeles community. The most notable destination was Homeboy Industries in Boyle Heights. 

As a class, the sophomores got to see the hope, community and fortitude that Homeboy Industries gives to those in need in person. They toured the buildings of the organization, learned about the educational and employment opportunities that Homeboy offers and heard personal stories of people whose lives were changed by being given a second chance. 

After a tour of Homeboy Industries, the class traveled to Dolores Mission School, also located in Boyle Heights. There, they ate lunch and learned more about the history of Boyle Heights and its residents. 

Though the combined experience of Homeboy Industries and Dolores Mission was a great one, many of the Tologs felt it might have been easier to enjoy the day, had there not been excessive discomfort because of unexpected transportation issues. The retreat took place over some of the hottest days of the year and the buses did not have working air conditioning.

“I think the fact that everyone was uncomfortable, made it harder to enjoy,” one anonymous Tolog believes. “I feel like I didn’t really take it in because I was just so hot.”

Luckily, the second day of retreat was a much-needed cool down. The sophomores spent the day in the Mozilo Arts Building at FSHA, where they learned about the four types of love: storge, philia, ergos and agape. A portion of the day was spent discussing and reflecting on each type of love, and how that love manifested in each student’s life. 

“[The retreat] definitely strengthened my understanding of the four types of love,” another anonymous Tolog says. 

The class was separated into randomly selected small groups, a decision that many of the sophomores believe helped foster a sense of community.

“This year we have a lot of new girls [in our class],” Sullivan says, “and I got to meet them and build relationships with girls I’ve never really hung out with [before].”

The end of the second day was an opportunity for deep spiritual reflection. The sophomores participated in and completed a Catholic Examen, led by Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction Ms. Tina Zapata. The Examen was a long prayer spent reflecting on the highs and lows of the day and personal connections to God.

Much of the Class of 2029 view the third day of retreat as their favorite. On Friday, the sophomores boarded new air-conditioned buses and drove to Fulcrum Adventures in Culver City, where they bonded as a class community on a ropes course. 

“My favorite part of the retreat was going to Fulcrum because I like being active…and [the ropes course] was a really fun activity to help our class bond,” an anonymous sophomore reflects.

The ropes course also presented Tologs with opportunities of personal growth.

“[The course]  helped me get over my fear of heights,” Sullivan says. “Now I can say, ‘Oh yeah, I can do that,’ even when I’m scared.”

The course featured a particularly daunting challenge called The Leap of Faith. To participate, sophomores had to climb a wooden pole thirty feet high. Upon reaching the top, they got a running start before jumping out to catch a rope dangling several feet away. One anonymous Tolog says taking the leap was the most challenging part of the retreat for her. 

“I couldn’t look down…I was really scared, but I’m glad I did it.”

Although sophomore retreat was a tad imperfect, it was also a shared experience for the sophomores which brought them closer and renewed their sense of love, community, and belief. 

“I learned a lot more about the girls in our class,” an anonymous student says. “We got to bond together and…we strengthened our connections.”