Mount Carmel Academy freshmen stepped away from their regular schedule on February 26 and 27 for their annual Freshman Retreat, centered on the theme Daughter of God (Galatians 3:26). The day included witness talks, small group discussions, Adoration and Mass, special activities such as creating flower crowns, and meaningful time together as a class.

During the two-day experience, half of the freshman class attended the retreat while the other half participated in a Biology I field experience focused on coastal restoration. Sponsored by the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, students learned about coastal erosion and ways to help protect Louisiana’s fragile coastline. As part of the initiative, they collected oyster shells that will be used to rebuild marsh areas and create living reefs. Together, volunteers bagged 18.5 tons of oyster shells that will return to the waters of St. Bernard Parish this spring to help protect the land from erosion and provide critical habitat.