NewsUpper SchoolStudent LifeFaculty/StaffServiceResidential Life
Freshman Retreat builds bonds
Aug 30, 2006 10:23 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Darlington’s Residential Life team knows the first week of school can be especially overwhelming for freshmen and other first-year students, so they decided to cram the weekend full of fun activities and a Freshman Retreat.
“Research shows that the first months at a new school determine the academic and social habits of a student throughout his or her time at the school,” said James Milford, director of residential life. “Having all new students go through common challenges – however small or great – builds rapport. The Freshman Retreat is a common experience and memory for these students that will stay with them throughout their time at Darlington and beyond.”
After Friday night’s Darlington vs. Lovett football game, both day and boarding freshmen were invited to a lock-in in the First-Year Houses (Summerbell and Cooper).
“The Summerbell boys hung out, ate pizza, watched TV and played video games,” said Reba Barnes, head of house. “We had 67 spend the night, and it was fun for the day students to see what it was like living with so many other boys under one roof. The boys stayed up late and woke up early for showers and Chick-fil-A biscuits.”
After breakfast, 102 freshmen, six first-year sophomores, 12 student leaders and 16 freshmen advisers were bussed to Berry College for the day-long Berry Outdoor Leadership Development (BOLD) Program. There they participated in high and low ropes course training and team-building activities, relying on one another’s help to overcome obstacles both on the ground and in the sky.
“These experiential learning activities were an acceleration of what would naturally happen with these students living and working together,” said Milford. “Ropes course activities teach us to take care of our teammates and have a good time while doing it. They push us out of our comfort zone and make us responsible for others.”
According to senior prefect Brett Henson, all of the activities required communication and teamwork. “Tasks and goals could not be achieved without cooperation,” he said. “Specifically, the climbing tower challenged the climber to reach his or her limits. However, the belay team and spotters were just as important in the climbing experience, offering encouragement and controlling the life line for the climber.”
The retreat also emphasized the importance of advisee groups. “A student’s advisee group is an instant social group, which can be a great help to new Darlington freshmen. By working with advisee groups on the retreat, this social group was strengthened,” said Henson. “The retreat symbolizes class unity and encourages optimism through difficult times. I hope the students had fun together, but also, I hope this was an event that they will look back upon during their careers at Darlington.”
Freshman Wale Desalu thinks he will. “The retreat taught us all to give support to one another as a class because we’re going to be doing that four the next four years,” he said. “We should learn to support each other for better or for worse.”
“Research shows that the first months at a new school determine the academic and social habits of a student throughout his or her time at the school,” said James Milford, director of residential life. “Having all new students go through common challenges – however small or great – builds rapport. The Freshman Retreat is a common experience and memory for these students that will stay with them throughout their time at Darlington and beyond.”
After Friday night’s Darlington vs. Lovett football game, both day and boarding freshmen were invited to a lock-in in the First-Year Houses (Summerbell and Cooper).
“The Summerbell boys hung out, ate pizza, watched TV and played video games,” said Reba Barnes, head of house. “We had 67 spend the night, and it was fun for the day students to see what it was like living with so many other boys under one roof. The boys stayed up late and woke up early for showers and Chick-fil-A biscuits.”
After breakfast, 102 freshmen, six first-year sophomores, 12 student leaders and 16 freshmen advisers were bussed to Berry College for the day-long Berry Outdoor Leadership Development (BOLD) Program. There they participated in high and low ropes course training and team-building activities, relying on one another’s help to overcome obstacles both on the ground and in the sky.
“These experiential learning activities were an acceleration of what would naturally happen with these students living and working together,” said Milford. “Ropes course activities teach us to take care of our teammates and have a good time while doing it. They push us out of our comfort zone and make us responsible for others.”
According to senior prefect Brett Henson, all of the activities required communication and teamwork. “Tasks and goals could not be achieved without cooperation,” he said. “Specifically, the climbing tower challenged the climber to reach his or her limits. However, the belay team and spotters were just as important in the climbing experience, offering encouragement and controlling the life line for the climber.”
The retreat also emphasized the importance of advisee groups. “A student’s advisee group is an instant social group, which can be a great help to new Darlington freshmen. By working with advisee groups on the retreat, this social group was strengthened,” said Henson. “The retreat symbolizes class unity and encourages optimism through difficult times. I hope the students had fun together, but also, I hope this was an event that they will look back upon during their careers at Darlington.”
Freshman Wale Desalu thinks he will. “The retreat taught us all to give support to one another as a class because we’re going to be doing that four the next four years,” he said. “We should learn to support each other for better or for worse.”
