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As part of their orientation, all 84 members of the Third Form completed team-building activities at the Newport County YMCA on Monday, September 21. The sunny day provided a perfect backdrop for a full day of fun. YMCA staff members led the entire group through some warm-up activities, and then the group was divided into smaller teams to tackle a variety of challenges both on and high above the ground.
"We are intentional in scheduling the annual Third Form Day Trip shortly after everyone arrives on campus," explained Paula Walter, dean of residential life. "We ask our Third Form students to absorb a lot of new information in the first week, and so it is a welcome relief to be able to go off campus and literally play for a day. The trip gives students the opportunity to learn more about each other and accomplish goals together. They work on team building, communication, support, commitment, confidence, and leadership. At the beginning of the day, many students are still learning the names of their classmates. Then they help each other scale a wood wall, solve puzzles together, and cheer for each other as they walk across a pole high off the ground or climb a soaring tower. And now bonds have formed.
"This trip is a shared experience that the Class of 2019 will always have," she continued. "One of my favorite moments this year was watching a group of five boys trying to figure out how to balance on a milk crate together. Each failed attempt ended in laughter. And their ultimate success was met with cheering and celebration!" The class was accompanied by Abbey faculty members Ms. Lizzie Benestad, Ms. Cecilia Schilling, Ms. Kate Reardon, Dr. Kent Rudasill, and Mrs. Paula Walter.