The senior retreat marks a turning point for students as they prepare for their senior year. Legends and stories passed down through the classes create escalated excitement for the first major event of their final high school year.
A weekend in the mountains, secret activities and time with friends await the students, who will depart for Calvin Crest, Sept. 6. The seniors will return for classes, Sept. 8.
Faculty leaders chose seven students to help plan the activities during the retreat. The student adviser team consists of Natalie McCallum, Scott Orcutt, John Dinsdale, Abby Schoettler, Shane Darakjian, Andrew Rurik and Ellie Mullins. The success of the retreat depends on the teamwork and imagination of the student leaders because they will create the atmosphere designed to help their classmates grow closer.
“In previous years, the retreat has either gone good or bad depending on the student leaders,” Darakjian said. “My brother, Gary (’06), said that it was one of his favorite memories from senior year. I hope to have a great time hanging out with friends and playing games when I go.”
The seniors will participate in multiple activities that will encourage them to bond and get to know one another better. These activities allow the students to escape from the normal school routine and experience the mountains for a weekend.
“It’s important to start off with something that gets the class excited for the upcoming year,” Orcutt said. “I hope the senior trip unifies the class and breaks up the clique mentality.”
According to Samantha Krikorian, ’08 alumna, contributing to the group activities and competing against her own classmates was the most memorable event of the retreat. She treasured the moments spent with her peers because she knew she would not keep in touch with most of them after graduation.
“The retreat was a big memory made and a great way to start off the year,” Krikorian said. “I thought to myself: ‘This is my last year so really make the most of it and have fun with your classmates.’ It’s good to know that I really cherished the moments when I could and did not take them for granted.”
Katie Mendenhall, one of the advisers for the retreat, hopes it will unify the senior class and start the year off with excitement. Other leaders include Principal Jon Endicott, vice principal Molly Sargent and Robert Foshee, chair of the Bible department. Mendenhall remembers her own time at Calvin Crest as a defined memory of her time at FC.
“My most memorable moment was when our leadership adviser sat us all in a circle and we held hands,” Mendenhall said. “He said to remember this moment forever because you will never be in this same place with these people ever again.”
For more information, e-mail Molly Sargent or Jon Endicott.
