The Kairos retreat offers more than just three days of reflection for Third Academics—it is a profound journey of reflection, connection, and spiritual growth. Leading this experience is a dedicated group of Fourth Academic student leaders who undergo months of preparation to guide their younger peers through a transformative process. Their involvement shapes the retreat for Third Academics and strengthens their own personal and spiritual development in alignment with the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education.

The Role of Student Leaders

Student leaders are the heart of Kairos. They are entrusted with facilitating small group discussions, delivering talks, and fostering an environment of vulnerability and trust. 

Grace Rienzo ’25 reflects on her responsibility in setting the tone for the retreat: “I told the [Third Academics] that they get out of Kairos what they put in.” Drawing from her Kairos experience the previous year, Grace encouraged Third Academic students to fully embrace the retreat and remain open-minded. As a first-time campus ministry leader, she credits this opportunity with helping her recognize the unique blessings of the Stone Ridge community.

Stevie Zonarich ’25 focused her talk on “love in action,” explaining, “Kairos is about experiencing love and bringing it back to others.” Inspired by the leaders who guided her during her own Kairos journey, Stevie applied to lead this year to continue the tradition of mentorship, connection, and support. 

Katie Marks ’25 delivered the final talk, “Live the Fourth,” urging participants to integrate the lessons of Kairos into their daily lives: “Kairos is a three-day retreat, but the fourth is every day after. I remember sitting there last year, deciding how I was going to live out the fourth.” As a campus ministry co-leader and now Kairos student leader, Katie exemplifies this commitment, guiding younger peers to find meaning beyond the retreat and inspiring them to integrate its teaching into their everyday actions.

Formation Through Leadership

The path to becoming a Kairos leader is both rigorous and rewarding. The applicant pool reflects a diverse range of students—some with leadership experience in athletics, academics, student governance, or school spirit, as well as those from different faith traditions and varying levels of involvement in campus ministry.

Students apply in the spring of their Third Academic year, writing multiple essays and undergoing interviews, with over a third of the class vying for one of 26 coveted positions. Those chosen for this year’s retreats received their acceptance letters on the final day of the 2023–24 school year. 

In the weeks leading up to the fall and spring Kairos retreats, student leaders engage in intensive training, crafting personal talks and refining their skills in facilitating small group discussions. Upper School Theology Teacher and Kairos organizer Eller Juco highlights the depth of preparation: “We are deliberate about the process. Students receive materials and outlines and are required to submit drafts of their talks for review. It’s a serious commitment.”

Each leader is paired with a faculty mentor for ongoing guidance and a fellow Fourth Academic student leader known as a “Journey Partner,” with whom they will work together to co-lead small groups at the retreat. The camaraderie that develops among the leaders is a hallmark of the experience. Katie reflects on the bond, “We were a tight-knit group. We all came together and meshed so well.”

“The student leadership takes on a lot, and they always rise to it, which has been awesome to see,” states Mr. Juco. “They all become talented in ministry in ways that we learn in adult theology schools, and they learn it very quickly, they're very attentive to each other, and they give up a lot to be here.”

“When I went on Kairos, my student leaders helped my whole experience, and they made it what it was. I wanted to give that back to the [Third Academics]. I wanted to make their experience as special as mine. It was rewarding to see how all of our hard work went into making such a beautiful retreat for them.” 

- Katie Marks ’25 

The leadership journey builds public speaking and listening skills and cultivates empathy, confidentiality, and the ability to hold space for others—life skills that extend well beyond Kairos.

“Public speaking has always been a challenge for me,” Katie shares. “Giving the talk really helped me. It pushed me to keep practicing.”

Stevie echoes this sentiment: “Being vulnerable in front of a group is difficult, but Kairos created a safe space for it. I recommend all [Third Academics] apply to be leaders. It was such a good experience.”

“Kairos helped me develop a new perspective on dealing with obstacles and challenges,” states Grace, reflecting on the benefits of her role as a student leader. 

The Ripple Effect of Kairos Leadership

The impact of Kairos leadership transcends the retreat itself. As Mr. Juco explains, “Kairos reorients students in the way they live their lives and interact with others.” Students leave understanding that they are deeply loved and that revelation drives them to share that love with their community.

This responsibility to “Live the Fourth,” as Katie urges, aligns closely with the Sacred Heart Goals, particularly Goal I: a personal and active faith in God, and Goal IV: building community as a Christian value. 

Katie reflects on the spiritual growth she experienced as a leader: “Faith has always been important to me, and being a Kairos leader has helped me to focus on Goal I, too.”

Grace agrees: “Kairos pushes leaders to deepen their relationship with God and their faith.” She also notes that in her role as a student leader, “we take what we learned from Kairos and change it a little bit or make it new so that the [Third Academics] have a good experience and enjoy what they’re doing at Kairos.”

The retreat also fosters unity and understanding. Stevie emphasizes how Kairos breaks down barriers: “It was nice to bond with our classmates, and I think it showed me how we all have stuff in common.”

Building a Stronger Community

For many Fourth Academic leaders, returning to Kairos is an opportunity to give back and create lasting memories for their peers. Katie explains her motivation for applying to be a student leader: “When I went on Kairos, my student leaders helped my whole experience, and they made it what it was. I wanted to give that back to the [Third Academics]. I wanted to make their experience as special as mine. [...] It was rewarding to see how all of our hard work went into making such a beautiful retreat for them.” 

Grace adds: “Seeing the [Third Academics] transform over the three days is something I think is truly cherishable and important.” She notes that Kairos “helps everyone grow as a person and with their class through community because you are learning so much more about yourself and others at the same time.”

Interest in Kairos leadership continues to grow each year, a testament to the profound impact of the retreat. As Mr. Juco notes, “We keep getting more and more applications, and I think that speaks to how well our student leaders have been doing and how much students want to be a part of giving back and sharing love with one another.”

Kairos at Stone Ridge is a shining example of the transformative power of student leadership. Each year, the retreat fosters a legacy of mentorship and inspiration, with new student leaders setting an example for the next generation. This cycle amplifies Kairos’ core message of sharing love and underscores the value of the retreat and its impact on an individual’s spiritual and personal journey. 

Through their commitment to faith, service, and community, Fourth Academic leaders shape a transformative retreat experience and emerge as more compassionate, confident individuals—ready to “Live the Fourth” daily and inspire others to do the same.