The MUS Lower School Blog

Camp behind us, school ahead

These Owl Campers prepare for their ascent up a climbing exercise at Victory Ranch during afternoon activities. Groups of boys were selected across our diverse enrollment to exist in distinct units in order to offer an opportunity for each boy to be introduced to his new classmates through various physical and mental activities. Each lad experienced some personal challenges in the process. The climbing wall and zip line, which these fellas are preparing to conquor, were just two of a number of stations where the guys went toe-to-toe with their fears and limitations. We were proud of a number of boys who obviously exceeded their expactations. 

The Class of 2015 survived the 2009 edition of Owl Camp as all classes and general orientation events are now complete. Aside from implementing classwork and instruction within the regular school structure, we as faculty and administration now work to learn about the boys' reaction to their first week, seeking particular examples from their experiences so we can better get a handle on individual and corporate issues to help everyone's transition. Moving up in life to middle school is a significant event in these boys' lives. Not all boys are at the same maturity level (for example, the partially cut-off figure in glasses to the right of the above photo is that of a fellow seventh grader!), and some sparks are going to fly as well as some tears are going to flow. It what happens. 

What we want for the boys is an opportunity to be safe and challenged given the almost quantum variables of their collective reactions. There is a lot going on within each boy, and we anticipate some adjustment phase along a wide continuum of emotions. For the most part, it looks like "so far, so good." That said, we know of a few incidences where we're having to talk to certain boys about how their behavior needs to be adjusted. These instructional confrontations are necessary, and we aim always to encourage while correcting. We appreciate your support, and we believe we can help foster positive relations as these guys grow into more responsible kids and a good class. 

Mailings for viewing

These letters and inserts are in the mail. Please download and copy for your files: Download Seventh Grade 2009 new student letter for seventh grade parents; Download Owl Camp Medical Permission 2009 for seventh graders; Download Owl Camp what NOT to bring 2009 for seventh graders.

Download Eighth Grade 2009 for new eighth grade parents.

Please read thoroughly, and read it again! 

We look forward to meeting all of you August 11, 5:30 p.m. for Parent Camp, and enjoy the rest of your summer.

Owl Camp memories

Six years separate our seniors from our seventh-graders, but we find that connecting our youngest boys to our oldest students has great benefits...for both groups.

Mini-Round champs proudly show off their snake skin-on-ball trophy after defeating Ms. Oxner and Mr. Smythe by one stroke on the final hole.

Owl Camp a success so far

If history is any indication, what your sons experienced Camp Bear Track will be communicated to you in various editorials ranging from factual accounts to urban legends. They'll excitedly tell you about the MUS senior class counselors who monitored their cabin groups. They'll tell of a new friend or foe and provide some anecdotes which they'll bring back to school with them come Monday. They may even say something along the lines of "Well, looks like I'm not in elementary school anymore." By in large, what the boys will be trying to say is, "I'm excited."

We sure hope that their conclusions after the first few days of orientation are generally positive. We had an isolated incident or two, which is usual, and we will address those events fairly and reasonably. However, in the big picture our perspective as faculty and administrators is that the Class of 2014 is quite a diverse bunch exhibiting raging potential. We saw many a boy small in stature prove himself to be quite large in spirit...and a boy like that can thrive at our school. To boot, we have some full-grown bodies with the dispositions of  young boys, and the "men-children" who may appear all tough on the outside are actually kids inside. How we are able to weave this tapestry of abilities and maturities into a class is a task that is now underway with a long journey to go.

We are just as excited as the boys this time of year, I assure you. Looks like we're off on a solid start.

We're off!

After a detailed morning of introductions, logistics, miffed locker assignments swiftly rectified, the eighth-graders smiled with confidence as they get ready to hit the books tomorrow morning. The seventh-graders have eaten lunch, changed clothes, supposedly hung up their nice clothes in their lockers, and are now awaiting their bus boardings. The place is alive again!

Pray for our safety as our youngest Owls travel to the Ozarks and our eighth-graders realize that they aren't in Kansas anymore.

Updated Orientation Manual online

Thanks to our own Terry Balton, the Lower School Operations Manual is updated and available. The subheading of the document reads "Parent Orientation Manual" because that's really what purpose the document serves. Clink on the "LS Operations Manual" link in the left column under "Useful Links" to view. If you are new to MUS, take some time to read through the document as it aims to emphasize the culture of just what these boys, as well as your family, will experience at school.

With one more day to go to get ready, we hope that all is going well in your preparation. As for us, we're like ducks...cool on top but paddlin' like heck under the water. By Wednesday morning, we'll be ready.

They're off!

Three buses of anxious seventh grade boys pulled off campus around 1:45 PM today, headed into to the first day of the rest of their lives...at least the rest of their new school year. They gladly shed coats-and-ties in favor of the shorts and t-shirts, assembling into multiple cabin groups per bus. The general tone was lighthearted, excited, and quite chatty. These guys seem to be having a good time thus far on this day of orientation and organization, and the faculty remarked how generally well-behaved and agreeable the boys seemed to be. That makes us really happy at the outset of a new year, and we hope to build upon their comradarie over the next few days. See you Wednesday afternoon!

I know it's hot!

Principal Smythe, here. For those of you new to blogging into our blogosphere, welcome to a great way to stay informed about the happenings of the Hull Lower School at MUS. We're in the process of setting up a number of changes to better suit our readership, so please bear with us while we get busy on our side, especially as we establish a new calendar specifically for the Lower School.

Now, for what I'm hearing as the "coffee-talk" amongst the seventh grade parents, "Will my child survive the blasted heat of Camp Bear Track!?" We anticipated your anxiety, for we share it as well. Papa Bear and his wife Olivia, proprietors of Camp Bear Track, assure me that this is nothing new to them. They run a serious, professional operation, licensed to meet strenuous guidelines demanding accountability from the American Camping Association. From Camp Bear Track's web site:

Q: What does it mean to be accredited by the American Camping Association?

A: American Camping Association is the national industry leader. To become accredited, Camp Bear Track has met the camp profession's highest standards for health, safety, and program quality. These standards establish criteria for living areas, food service, emergency preparedness, program, practices, health care, personnel, transportation and administrative procedures. Only 25% nationwide have attained this accreditation status. Camp Bear Track has been accredited since 1997.

From Papa Bear as of this weekend: 

Given the recent weather conditions, we wanted to inform parents about the measures that will be taken to ensure the safety of your sons. As an accredited summer camp, Camp Bear Track is required to schedule mandatory water breaks and curtail physical activity based upon the heat index.

Mandatory water breaks include sitting in the shade and everyone being required to drink water. MUS provides a personal water bottle for each student. Students will write their names on these bottles and will be asked to keep them on their person at all times. We will also have a morning break where students will be offered Gatorade and apples.

While the cabins are not air conditioned, each cabin has fans that are working and will be in use. Also, there is a mister machine outside the dining hall that provides relief.

Camp Bear Track and MUS have your son's best interests at heart and will take all measures necessary to keep your son safe. However, if you do not feel comfortable sending your son to the retreat given the weather conditions, we understand and will miss him.

Thus, they are ready with a plan, and from my personal experience as an Owl Camp vet at Camp Bear Track, when we arrive, Papa Bear will spend no little time making sure that all are aware of the seriousness of the heat. He'll train the MUS Upper School counselors, who join along with his experienced staff, and he'll remind the attending adults from MUS as to the plan for water breaks as well as the schedule adjustments to avoid the heat at prime scorching hours.

If you feel that the trip to Drasco, given the heat forecast, places your son at serious health risk due to his medical condition, you may keep him at home. Please call me at home, 278.3959, or on my cell, 216.3959, if you want to talk.

In case you missed last night's meeting for parents of incoming 7th graders...

Here are the handouts from last night's session.

• Lower School Operations Manual
  (Microsoft Word format)
• New Parents Orientation Presentation
  (Microsoft PowerPoint format)

What happens in Owl Camp stays in Owl Camp?

OK, that's not exactly true, especially now that we have a new PHOTO ALBUM of pictures taken at the 2006 7th grade Owl Camp orientation.  Kate Metcalf of the MUS Communcations Department and Catherine Schuhmacher, our Lower School Counselor, captured lots and lots (and lots) of pictures of the boys having a great time and getting to know each other.

Take a look, browse around, and enjoy.

We're going to do more with photo albums this year, and this is a start.  As always, if you have thoughts, drop us some Blogmail.