Walk for Fun!

Camp Orkila

Learning Through Service Learning

Personal Challenge Day

In preparation for Camp Orkila, we headed to the woods with our Synergo ropes-course facilitators and engaged in a high elements challenge, the Cat Walk. The element is a log suspended about 40 feet in the air and requires you to climb a ladder, giant tree staples, to scramble onto the log and potentially walk across it where you are lowered back to the ground. This challenge requires 10 people to assist you with belaying and 1 person to direct the belayers. Our 5th graders loved it! Each classmate made their own personal goal that was the appropriate level of challenge; some to complete the entire task, others to touch the log, and some to make up the ladder and to the staples.

The following day we watched video footage of themselves and their interactions. In reflecting on themselves, they created some class goals for the learning community. These include:

• Trust each other; be trustworthy
• Value silence; it welcomes quieter voices and offers time to think deeply about what is said
• Listen to understand, not just hear
• Honor each others' needs for success

Creating A BUZZ About Books

Ringing in 5th Grade

When asked for a moment that you knew 5th grade would be a great year, many students claimed this right-of-passage moment on the first day. Indeed, it will be a great year!

The Heart of New Beginnings

And we are off...

Attitude of Gratitude

Tomorrow is our LAST Lower School Chapel! In preparing for this, Chaplain Phillip asked us to complete the sentence: Here at the end of the school year, our class is grateful for ... Together we brainstormed a list of answers, and then collaborated to create our final sentence. It feels fitting to read this beautiful sentence while studying their "before" and "after" 5th grade class photos. Indeed, it has been a year full of magic, community, friendship, and laughter.

Learning Celebration

On Friday we loved sharing our year's worth of learning, reflecting, and exploration with our parents. One highlight was revealing our year-long self-identity scrapbook project. These were filled with pomes, photos, essays, and art pieces that explore who we are through various lenses. Our other favorite part was giving a tour through the "I Believe" art collection, sharing many other artist's statements and pieces. Mostly, we loved having our families there to listen to our year's journey and growth. Thank you Moms, Dads, Sisters, and Grandmas for joining us!

How Did Our Time at Camp Orkila Change Us?

Flossing At Camp

Disclaimers: 

1. This video is being played at normal speed. 

2. No one was harmed in the making of this video.

3. Teachers are unable to demonstrate these dance moves.

Our kids are amazing!