9th Grade Retreat

A VCP Signature Experience

In partnership with Camp Widjiwagan

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Purpose and Goals

What to Bring

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High-Level Itinerary

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What’s Next!

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Overnight at Widji

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Q & A

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Why does VCP host a 9th grade Retreat?

Packing checklist and parent-provided letter

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Signature Events and Activities

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When more information will be released

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Accommodations, Attendance, Health & Safety Protocols

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If time permits, ask questions

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Purpose & Goals

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Why does VCP host a 9th grade Retreat?

9th Grade Retreat: Purpose and Goals

Purpose

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• The 9th Grade Retreat is a“signature experience,” or tradition, at VCP that marks ninth-graders’ transition into high school and, for all of them, the start of a new storyline.
• The Retreat is designed to foster community within mentor groups and help students navigate significant programmatic shifts that happen when they come to VCP: the merging of Flagship, Voyager, and new-to-Valor students, co-ed mentor spaces and circles, and affinity groups.
• The Retreat will be the kick-off to high school circle and badgework for 9th graders. Students will present their first badge--their Lifestory 5.0 Badge--to their peers, and through the badge, introduce who they are and what they value to their new community.

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WE EXIST TO EMPOWER OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY TO LIVE INSPIRED AND PURPOSEFUL LIVES

9th Grade Retreat: Purpose and Goals

Goal

As importantly, the Retreat is packed with FUN. In partnership with Widjiwagan, we’ve designed an itinerary that is loaded with team-building, leisure time, outdoor activities, and more so that students find joy in the transition to VCP and feel safer and more connected to each other as a result!

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WE EXIST TO EMPOWER OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY TO LIVE INSPIRED AND PURPOSEFUL LIVES

High-Level Itinerary

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Signature Events and Activities

WHEN: Thursday, September 8th at 11:30AM to Friday, September 9th at 4PM

WHERE: YMCA CAMP WIDJIWAGAN 3088 Smith Springs Rd, Antioch, TN 37013

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PHONE: (615) 360-2267

HOW: Students will be transported via bus from Valor to camp and back!

There will be no instruction on 9/8, and students should not report to school until 11:30 for departure to Widji.

High Level Itinerary

Thursday, September 8th

Friday, September 9th

-Opening Ceremonies

-Whole group game

-Mentor Circles

-Team Quest challenge

-Choice Time (includes water slides, giant swing, archery and zip lining!)

-Nighttime social

-Affinity Spaces

-Mentor Circles

-Team Building

-Closing Ceremonies

Overnight Experience

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Accommodations, Meals, and Safety

Staying Overnight at Widjiwagan!

We believe that staying overnight with 9th grade peers and mentors is integral to the bonding and community-building students will do on this trip.

• Single-gender cabins with two staff chaperones (21 max. capacity)
• 20+ Valor staff and numerous YMCA staff supervising!
• All meals provided by Widjiwagan; snacks by VCP
• Option to check-out at 8PM on 9/8 and check-in at 8AM on 9/9 if overnight not preferred by family.

Cell Phone & Rooming Policies

CELL PHONE USAGE

ROOMING

• After / before bus rides, these will be checked-in with students’ cabin chaperones and can be checked out for student use 30m before bed and 30m in the morning after waking up.

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• In case of an emergency, please reach out directly to the mentor’s cell. If the student has an emergency, the mentor will contact you

• Students will room with their fellow mentees of the same gender and members of their mentor group. (There will likely be two mentor groups with same-gender chaperones in their cabin.)

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• If your student identifies as nonbinary, please reach out to Mr. Alexander / Ms. Robertson to help determine where they’ll be most comfortable staying.

Health & Attendance Protocols

YMCA

VALOR

• Plastic partitions between bunks and blue-light cleaning between group check-ins.

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• When indoors and moving around (i.e. going up to the lunch line) masks are required. If seated with same group, masks can be removed.

• In indoor spaces, including bus, students will sit in assigned seat with assigned group to support contact tracing if ever needed.
• Attendance will be taken after each major transition in the day by mentorg group.
• Option to check-in / check-out to not spend the night.
• If student does not attend, excused absence will be issued.

Meals & Medications

Meals

Medications

• Hot meals served in Turner Dining Hall for Day 1 lunch and dinner and Day 2 breakfast.
• S’mores provided the first night.
• Additional snacks and H20 / Gatorade brought by Valor.
• Every meal has a vegetarian option.
• We have food allergy list!

• Doctor-signed “Medication Administration” form on file with VCP for prescriptions.
• Only chaperones can distribute prescription medications from sealed containers.
• Chaperones will collect any prescription medications the morning of departure; please bring in ziploc bag in sealed container.

What to Bring

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Student Packing List and Parent-Provided Letter

What Should Students Bring?

Please refer to the Packing Checklist that you picked up when entering this session. There is a Packing Checklist that will be in future Principal Updates, sent to students through email, and linked in forthcoming Mentor blasts!

WHAT’S NEXT and Q & A

Family-facing schedule & packing list

Virtual Info Session for Parents (30m)

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Students work on Lifestory 5.0 Badges

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9th Overnight Retreat at Widjiwagan!

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July 22nd Principal’s Update

August 29th @ 6:00 PM on ZOOM

August 22nd - September 6th

September 8th-9th

CONTACT...

Rachel Robertson,

Inspired & Purposeful Lives Director

Vincent Alexander

9th Grade Compass Coach

For any questions or concerns related to retreat content, logistics, or safety.

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rrobertson@valorcollegiate.org

For any questions related to students’ emotional well-being or mentoring & badgework.

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valexander@valorcollegiate.org