The challenge to groups of Flood Brook middle school students was to transport water as fast as possible - from one bucket in a fixed position to another, 10 yards away. (Hint: soaked sponges come in handy.) “The idea is to combine lessons in problem-solving, collaboration, and communication, with a little bit of chaos mixed in,” observed one school advisor. “It’s all part of building our middle school community at the start of the new year.”
For two days some one hundred Flood Brook sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students bonded over games, hikes, art projects, music, food, and conversation on a retreat at The Rafters, an outdoor recreation space in South Londonderry
“Our middle school students are leaders and mentors at our school,” said K-8 Flood Brook School (FBS) Principal Johanna Liskowsky-Doak. “They set an example for all the students, especially the younger ones. In order to be strong leaders, they must first feel like they are part of a strong, positive community themselves. The retreat is an important first step for our adolescents to begin taking on leadership roles as well as building solid relationships with one another and our staff.”
(Photo above: Flood Brook students soaking sponges for transporting water from one bucket to another.)
FBS students selected and prepared the lunch menu, that included nachos, at the FBS retreat at The Rafters.
The challenge for these middle school students is to scrunch together and flip over the tarp without stepping off.
Creative time with arts & crafts was part of the schedule at the Flood Brook middle school retreat.