The transition to middle school can be a difficult time for
some students. Moving to a new school, meeting a lot of new people, switching
between different classes each period, and learning to open a locker are part
of the challenges that almost every middle schooler experiences for the first
time in 7th grade. To help ease the new school jitters and build
fellowship, the Montgomery Catholic 7th grade class takes an
overnight trip to Camp Chandler at the beginning of each school year.
The students enjoyed all kinds of activities including
archery, swimming, tower climbing, boat rides, and everyone’s favorite high-intensity
camp game, GaGa. The students split into four large groups and rotated between
the different activities during the day. In the evening, everyone gathered
around the campfire to wind down for songs and fellowship with one another. Justin
Castanza, Principal of the Montgomery Catholic middle school, gave a motivational
talk to welcome the students to middle school and encourage them to get to know
one another better.
Reflecting on the time spent together, the students felt
that the trip was both fun and valuable to create new friendships and strengthen
bonds within the class. “Camp was fun and a great way to get to know everyone,”
said student Michael Ann Williams. Eli Kindle agreed. "It really brought
us together and united us.”
