The TEN Spotlights and Recap: Sophomore Trip Outside the Classrooms

Agnes deSouza 28’

The TEN is an annual bonding trip for Grade 10, which happens every first week of

September. This year’s trip, held from September 8th to September 12th at Ningbo, China,

brought the entire Grade 10 together for five days of outdoor expeditions, bonding activities, and

community building.

The Grade 10 counsellor and one of the organizers of the trip, Mr. Delain, said, “The trip

is really about community…It gives students a chance to see each other beyond academics — to

laugh, communicate, and work together in ways that aren’t possible in a classroom.”

Throughout the trip, students participated in activities such as hiking, cooking, food

hunting, river rafting, stand-up paddleboarding... many more various group challenges and fun

activites. For many students, The Ten pushed them out of their comfort zones, which facilitated

the formation of new friendships.

“My favorite part was cooking with my friends because it’s something we never get to do

back in Shanghai,” shared Mia Peng 28’, one of the grade 10 students. “It helped me connect

with classmates I don’t usually hang out with. I realized how important it is to take time away

from our usual school routine to relax and bond. It is a truly valuable experience.”

For others, the connections formed during bus rides and randomly sorted group activities

made the biggest impact. Reina Kang, a sophomore who has been at SAS for 6 years, said, “The

trip helped me connect with people I didn’t know before. We were in random groups, so I got to

talk to people I’d never really spoken to. The bus rides were long, but they were also some of the

most fun moments.”Even the most challenging activities, such as Hiking, brought people closer together.

Reina Kang 28’ recalled the group hike as a highlight, especially for the shared effort it required.

"Everyone was so tired, but we were all encouraging each other. It made me realize how fun it is

to struggle through something together.”

Similarly, Aone Kim 28’, a new sophomore, also found that the outdoor expeditions were

the most memorable part of the trip. “I’d never done anything like that before,” she said. “It was

so spontaneous, you just had to go with the flow of the water. My partner and I were screaming

and laughing the whole time.” Looking back at these memories made at the ten, she found these

fun moments really helped her to bond with the community. Aone found herself “saying hi to

more people in school after the trip ended.” The Ten made her a more active member of the

Class and is impactful to school life.

Mr. Delain said “It was amazing to see students talking to people they might not normally

interact with...We also saw students engaging deeply with China’s history and culture through

excursions and conversations with local guides. Experiences like these help students feel a sense

of belonging — and that sense of belonging leads to positive outcomes both in school and in

life.”

As the buses headed back towards SAS, students carried home more than just photos and

gifts, but precious memories and newly formed friendships. The TEN remains one of SAS’s

most beloved traditions.