Middle School Spring Spiritual Emphasis Retreat

Please mark Friday, April 17 on your calendar as the day middle school students will have their Spiritual Emphasis Retreat at Woodlands Camp.

This full-day trip will be filled with several activities including sessions of worship with a guest speaker, House games and activities, breakout discussions, camp activities, and food.

For those who have never been to Woodlands, it has many activities: zipline, giant swing, Slam Ball, game room, fields for outdoor games, worship center, indoor basketball courts, etc. It is often a highlight of the middle school experience.

Please fill out this DocuSign for the retreat: Middle School Permission DocuSign for Woodlands Retreat

We are praying this day will be filled with the presence of God and bonding together as a middle school division. See more info below.

Friday, APRIL 17

Arrival and Return

Students need to arrive to the MPCS campus between 5:30-5:45 a.m. to load the buses. Drop-off will occur in the large parking lot behind the Murray Arts Center (MAC) building. Buses will depart MPCS promptly at 6:00 a.m. Teachers will be in the parking lot to direct students to the correct buses. We plan to return to campus around 8:45-9:00 p.m. that evening. Please plan to arrive at 8:45 p.m. to pick your child up in the same location as drop-off (lower MAC parking lot).  

What to Wear

Students MUST wear any middle school House apparel (past House t-shirts, purchased House shirts or outerwear from the school store, House polo) with athletic bottoms. Because we are asking them to wear this on Friday, they should NOT wear House apparel the day before on Thursday, our typical House apparel day. Instead, they should wear normal uniform polos to school on Thursday, April 16th. 

• Boys: athletic shorts must have 7-inch inseam.
• Girls: leggings must be paired with a shirt covering bottom or the school PE shorts.
• Athletic shoes are required (no Crocs).
• Students may want to have a jacket or MPCS sweatshirt for the morning activities depending on what the weather may be like. 

What to Bring

Please pack the following items in a sling bag or small backpack:

• Bible, journal, and pencil or pen
• Refillable water bottle
• Sunscreen (we will be outside most of the day) and/or a hat
• Bug spray
• Money for snack shop/gift shop/coffee bar (optional)
• Rain jacket

What NOT to Bring

Cell phones and all smartwatches need to be left AT HOME on Thursday. If you need to contact your child during the day, you are welcome to send an email or you may call the front desk of the school, and the message will be immediately relayed to us at camp. If your child needs to contact you during the day, they may use the phone of any adult in attendance. No electronic devices of any kind.

Meals

• Breakfast – Students should eat breakfast before they arrive at MPCS to depart or bring something convenient to eat on the bus. We will have a snack for them around 10:00 a.m.
• Lunch – Woodlands is providing lunch. Please email Jeff Diggle if your child requires the gluten-free option so that we ensure there is enough. If your child requires anything outside of this option, please feel free to send them with food. We will have a refrigerator available to use at Woodlands for those that need to send in additional food for dietary restrictions.
• Dinner – We will serve students dinner around 5:00 p.m. As with lunch, there will be a gluten-free option available for those who need it. Again, if your child requires anything outside of these options, please feel free to send them with food. 

We don't find out the menu until closer to when we leave, but please know there are always gluten-free and dairy-free options at both meals.

Medications:

If students self-carry medication (epi-pens, inhalers, etc.), they must bring those items from home and carry them throughout the day. If your child requires a mid-day dose of a medication that we keep at school, we will help to administer that to them while at Woodlands. Those prescription medications should be in the original container and placed in a Ziploc bag with the child’s name on the bag. You may give those medicines to Melissa Troskie or Beth Parsons when dropping off your child at school Thursday morning.

You will need to confirm that you have updated all your students’ records, including prescription information, in the Magnus Health portal before April 14. You can access Magnus Health through FACTS>Student>Medical>Magnus Health. 

Please note that loose pills in Ziploc bags, envelopes, or unlabeled containers will not be accepted or administered. Medications sent without a signed permission form will not be administered. Students may not carry ANY medications themselves other than Asthma meds, Epi pen, and insulin. Accompanying paperwork found in the Magnus Health portal must be on file for these medications and the medication should be properly labeled with the student's name. The student will be responsible for these emergency medications while on the trip if they choose to self-carry.

We are planning for an exciting day with our middle school students in hopes of growing closer to our Lord and Savior, and having a lot of fun!