7th/8th Retreat - Day 1
I got a text from a senior while we were having our 6th grade session this morning that said, “um…the middle schoolers are singing Christmas songs on my bus. we’re having the best time!” I knew right then that this was going to be a fun couple of days and Day 1 did not let me down! We had a great day!
After everyone got here, we had a brief orientation and then students went to their rooms and got settled in before reporting for lunch. The seniors have done a great job in leading the students and making sure they’re where they’re supposed to be and on time! After lunch, we had a middle school-wide scavenger hunt around the camp. It was a blast! It was followed by some free time, in which the blob, trapeze, water slides, boats, zipline, snack bar, coffee shop (for us old people), game room, basketball and volleyball courts and more were all open! After dinner, everyone got on their country/western/cowboy/cowgirl attire. We had some great participants tonight, but Hazel and Mark won our best-dressed award for the evening (although Ansley’s suspenders were pretty cool!). During our session, Chris Coleman and the band led us some fun upbeat songs, but also a time of meaningful and thoughtful worship. Then Cody Deese got up and brought a challenging message…the worship session showed us it is going to be a great week!
Then we went to cabin groups (which are smaller groups, composed of people in each student’s room and led by a few seniors per room). We ended the night with a talent show and saw some funny and great talents (everything from rubics cubes to singing a solo). We have some talented middle schoolers…but we also have some talented seniors. They performed a lip-sync performance of “My Girl” and had everyone had their feet! We ended the night with a dance party and then everyone went off to their cabins.
While they’re resting now, we’re excited about what tomorrow will hold for us. Thanks for the prayers!
6th Grade Retreat - Day 2
We had an incredible fun last day at the retreat with our 6th graders! We kicked off with breakfast and then learned about what a quiet time is and how to have one. Each student then had the chance to have a quiet time with some guidance from print-outs and I’ve heard some great things about starting the morning off that way!
At Session 2, Chris led us in some songs and the students sang so loud! Coach Dorsey then spoke to us about growing up and maturing. After cabin groups, we began getting ready for the 7th and 8th graders. After some lunch, we had a middle school-wide scavenger hunt that was a blast! Finally, everyone’s favorite time of the day…free time (with all our activities open).
We ended the day cleaning up and some dinner before a group picture and getting on the bus. Now everyone is back home, resting soundly after a great few days at the 6th grade retreat! We had an amazing time and can’t wait for next year!
6th Grade Retreat - Day 1
What a great day it has been for our 6th graders! We’ve had a lot of new things and firsts, but there has been a lot of excitement! I don’t know if I’ve ever so many students so excited about something. It’s been a blast!
We started off our time together at an orientation talking about the retreat and some guidelines. From there we got settled into our cabins and rooms and then had lunch. After lunch we got to play some fun games in the dome (like our NCCS pavilion). From there we had free time. Some students did the blob, trapeze, slides, boats or other lake activities while others had fun up in the game room or on the zipline. Late afternoon we called everyone together and watched Soul Surfer. Students had a chance to get some snacks for the movie from the the snack bar also. It was nice to have a break for a movie…for students and teachers!
Then we had dinner and that’s when most of our senior leaders arrived. The 6th graders were very excited about the seniors arriving and leading them and they’ve done a great job so far (and both being guided by our awesome teacher staff up here too!). After dinner we had our first worship session and were led in songs by Chris Coleman and spoken to by Mrs. Strange about integrity. Some of our students made some really cool decisions through the time. After that, we had some cabin group time and then had s’mores and a bonfire! By that time, it had already been a full day and everyone went off to their rooms and are now all safely sleeping away…preparing for another full day tomorrow!
Upper School Retreat Day 2
It’s been an excellent Thursday at Woodlands Camp and Conference Center! We kicked off the day with some eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy (and of course, cereal and fruit). After talking about and having a quiet time, we started our morning session. Mrs. Strange spoke to us about integrity being “the invisible path to influence.”
From there 9-10th grades had small groups and 11-12 had lunch. After this flipped and everyone had eaten lunch and had small group time, we launched into day 2 of our track times. These were a new thing for us this year and were really cool and a lot of fun.
During free time, some students organized a relay that resembled the TV show Wipeout in the lake, while others watched a movie indoors and many more activities. The snack shop is always a hit as well!
After dinner tonight, we went into our third session. Brett Younker and the band led us in a time of reading from Revelation 5 looking at a picture of God’s throne. It was clear where we were heading for the night. Cody Deese came up and spoke a message about the Church simply being the Church and not being exclusive or hiding under a rock. After his message, we celebrated what God has done this week and went to small groups. Students received their retreat t-shirts (designed by sophomore Kendyll Romine) at small group tonight to wear tomorrow.
The night ended with a class competition that was announced at the beginning of the retreat…a lip sync competition! Each class choreographed and faked singing a song. We had a lot of laughs and it’s clear we have some really “talented” students here at NCCS!
It’s been a great two days so far and I’m super excited about tomorrow morning!
morning session going strong!
“my God’s not dead, He’s surely alive!”
