Better Together Stories: Lifting Each Other Higher

When St. Benedict’s middle school students arrived at Treetop Quest in Dunwoody, excitement mixed with hesitation. Harnesses clicked, ropes swayed, and the challenge ahead looked higher than many expected. What unfolded that day was more than a test of balance or bravery. It became a living lesson in trust, teamwork, and the quiet power of encouragement.

Maria Coles, Fifth through Eighth Grade Art Teacher at St. B’s noticed right away how students came together to support one another. Some hesitated to take their first step onto the ropes course, but classmates were quick to encourage them, offering words of reassurance and applause when someone found the courage to jump. She said the atmosphere was full of kindness and empathy, with older and younger students cheering side by side.

Coles, who was ziplining for the first time, found herself relying on that same encouragement. One of her eighth graders, Lucy, became her biggest cheerleader, reminding her she could do it and even giving her a small push to get started. It was, she said, a moment that captured the heart of the day: courage strengthened by community.

Brandon Flemister, Seventh and Eighth Grade  Social Studies Teacher at St. B’s saw a similar pattern of connection and care. Some students were nervous, he recalled, unsure if they could complete the course. But as the day went on, he watched them help one another across obstacles and celebrate each small success. He was especially moved by the way older students stepped up to lead, guiding their younger peers with patience and encouragement.

“You had eighth graders helping fifth graders,” Flemister said. “Everyone adopted this no-person-left-behind mindset.”

From every platform, shouts of encouragement echoed through the trees. Coles heard students cheering for their teachers and classmates from different courses, calling out names and sharing laughter that carried through the park. She said it was one of the most supportive experiences she has seen at St. Benedict’s, a reflection of the belonging the school strives to cultivate every day.

The trip also deepened connections among teachers. Coles spent the day with colleagues Ebony Palmore and Alexis Thomas, and said that sharing the experience reminded her of the strength and warmth within the St. B’s faculty and staff community. They faced their own fears, celebrated one another’s successes, and modeled the same courage and camaraderie their students showed on the course.

Flemister hopes students will carry those lessons back into their daily lives at school. He believes experiences like Treetop Quest help students understand that growth often happens through teamwork and trust. “In life, they’ll face challenges that require perseverance and support,” he said. “That’s what I saw all day—students realizing they can be brave and kind at the same time.”

By the end of the trip, the ropes and zip lines had become more than a course. Between laughter, small acts of courage, and countless moments of encouragement, students and teachers discovered that trust doesn’t just hold you up on a harness. It holds a community together.