YEAR-END PICNIC & AWARDS

Thursday, June 13th 6 PM

CLASSROOM and/or TEACHER: Whole school

ACTIVITIES & HOW THEY ENRICH THE CURRICULUM: Year-end potluck is a chance for families to have a meal together while celebrating student achievement. The Awards Ceremony will follow the potluck and students will receive recognition for their contributions and hard work this year. Bee winners will receive their certificates, and students will be performing some final songs.

DATE: Thursday, 6-13-24

ARRIVAL TIME: 6 pm (although families are welcome to come earlier to play)

DEPARTURE TIME: 9 pm

ADDRESS: 46640 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI 48170

DIRECTIONS: Located on Ann Arbor Trail between Beck and Sheldon Roads and directly across from McClumpha Road.

SHELTER: We have reserved the main shelter, Shelter 2, which is the second parking lot on the right and closest to the large wooden playscape.

CONTACT: David Liou

PHONE: 248-894-5655

APPAREL: There is a Splash Park so if you’d like to play in that, swimwear, towels, sunscreen may be suitable. However, students will also be performing so should bring a cover up or change of clothes as well. There is also a playscape, play structure, bike and hike trail and a stream that runs through the park so play clothes and close-toed shoes are appropriate.

POTLUCK ARRANGEMENTS: Thank you to everyone who submitted their dish!

OTHER NEEDS: Parents are responsible for the safety and chaperoning of their own children at the park, especially the Playscape. Teachers will be focused on events and program. Bathrooms are available throughout the park.

PARK RULES: No pets are allowed at the park or in the shelters, no adhesive attachments (to put up signs), glitter, streamers, confetti, silly string or any items that contain glitter and/or confetti. No bull horns, radios, PA systems, alcohol, or smoking are allowed.

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER AND SOME HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

Today we celebrated the summer birthdays! Pictured below are Cassie and Finnley with their birthday card and pencils!

GAMES & READ-A-THON

Last Week of School

Thursday, June 13th

On this last day of school, faculty typically wind up all last-minute items in the morning while students get to play Board Games. After Recess and Lunch, students relax for a read-a-thon and bring bedding/blankets (sleeping bags) and pillows along with a book (or several) to enjoy.

Below is a collage of the different ways students have chosen to relax. This quiet time also helps them to relax and be ready for the evening’s potluck, graduation, and awards.

"CHAOTIC KAYAKING"

by Felix Thomason, Age 12

I woke up in the morning to the crazy duck named “Ducky” attacking my tent. Then I left to make oatmeal for breakfast. After I did the dishes, we set off to the place we would begin kayaking. The people going were Jaxson, Ruth, and June who are Ms. Chapla’s, the owner of the campsite, daughters, all the adults, and I. 

When we arrived, we were driven to the spot along the Kalamazoo River in Plainwell where we would begin kayaking. Launching went well because no one got soaked. I can’t say the same about the rest of the trip. People flipped over, lost paddles and got stuck. I only got stuck. By the end of it I was so sore I could barely move. The drive back was peaceful because we saw perfect fields, filled with corn. It was really beautiful.  

When we got back, we boiled water for ramen noodles; I whittled chopsticks and used them to eat the ramen. Then I went to bed and waited for tomorrow.

I picked this experience because it was the most exciting day (which is not saying much, the whole trip was pretty relaxing) due to it being a chaotic paddle. It was the dream vacation where you eat, sleep, eat, sleep, eat sleep. I also got to see some pretty cool stuff, like turtles and turtle eggs. When I got stuck on the beach I saw 10-15 turtle eggs.

One annoying thing was that giant fishing spiders and caterpillars kept falling into my boat when I brushed branches though the scenery on this trip made up for it. The fishing spiders were as big as wolf spiders, like the palm of my hand!

This trip emphasized many important things such as patience which was important when I was trying to get the kayak out of the mud. Patience was also needed when helping others, like when I towed Jaxson’s kayak back to him. The experience also exercised respect for nature. It helped with getting out of bad situations because I got stuck on a muddy bank. It also made me a better kayaker.

This experience exercised many things that I will remember for the rest of my life. This experience has helped me become more mature, which is something that will help me for the rest of my life. It taught me how to rely on myself more, something that will be useful to me in college when I’m without family living with me. This experience has helped me to be more disciplined and to follow directions, which are useful in school because they help listening skills. Also, this experience has helped me learn from my mistakes, which is important in life. 

I recommend the experience as it teaches you how to survive in the wilderness. It helps you feel more comfortable when being on your own. Also, it helps you work hard to reach your goals. It teaches a lot and may save your life if you get stuck in the wilderness. My tip for anyone coming on the camping trip next year is to cook meals early in the day.

"LET IT RAIN"

by Jaxson Woods, Age 14

This year, I would like to discuss the experience of the last three days of the camping trip in Allegan, on the property of Ms. Erin Chapla. This was our fourth time at this location. On these survival nights, it rained and one night I was soaked and the other night, I was dry. Also, on the third day, I had the best meal in my life.

On Tuesday night, I was the cook for dinner and I didn’t have enough of time to finish my shelter. Before it got dark, I slapped some bark on the sides of the A-Frame shelter I built and hoped that it didn’t rain. But, of course, it did. At 5 am, I woke up to the raindrops and quickly got up. To keep my supplies from getting soaked, I tied my rain poncho to a tree and put my sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and other stuff under it. Thankfully, my stuff didn’t get any wetter. Then, I went to check on the others. Like me,June, and Ruth, the daughters of Mrs. Chapla, and Felix were soaked. So for the next hour and half, I was huddling under a rain poncho trying to stay dry.

On Wednesday night, I wasn’t the cook for dinner, and I had plenty of time to make my shelter. The first thing I did was gather a lot of bark and laid it on the frame. Then, I gathered hundreds of skunk cabbage leaves to waterproof my shelter. I laid them down like shingles. That night, I was completely dry, but I still woke up at 3 am to the sound of rain. I was so proud of myself because that was the first time that I stayed dry in the rain on a survival night.

On my last day, Thursday, Dr. Morse, Mrs. Morse, Felix, and I stopped at 1064 Lincoln Rd., Allegan Michigan at Allen’s Farm Market. Why do I know the exact spot? Because this was the place that I had the best meal that I ever had in my life. I had an omelet that included onions and sausage with sausage gravy on top and white toast. Oh my gosh, it was so good! I was even lucky enough to get a hot cinnamon roll and that was amazing as well.

I would definitely recommend this experience to others because it will teach you a life lesson. Those last two nights taught me that I could actually make a shelter that could keep me dry and comfy. Also, I learned that, after a hard lesson, you can do better the next day. My final advice is to go to Allen’s Food Market. You may never have another meal as good as theirs because everything they cooked, they grew.