NE W S & EVENTS
Helping New Students Feel at Home have fun, and that helped the new students feel relaxed and open up. Of course, everyone felt a little uncomfortable and awkward at first. Who wouldn’t, entering a new school? After just a day, though, everyone felt as though they had known each other for years and began to really enjoy the silly games we played, which ranged from extreme rock paper scissors to jumping over ropes and climbing poles. The most popular activities were whitewater rafting and zip lining. The trip was a huge success. Everyone had fun and came away with lasting friendships. I see those friendships continue in school, even across grade levels. The retreat broke down boundaries between old and new students. It was an amazing opportunity to make ASF feel like home to those who came from far away. —Mai-Lee Picard, 12th grade student
ASF welcomes some 60 new students to the Upper School each year, making it a challenge to help them integrate into the school. So one of the highlights of the beginning of a new school year is always the new student retreat to Veracruz. There is nothing scarier than entering a new school (and often a new country as well) during high school, and the new student retreat is an excellent way to ease that transition. It’s a three-day trip that includes not only new students but also Student Council members, teachers and “Links.” Links are returning ASF students who volunteer to help newcomers meet other students and adjust (being new myself last year, I learned to appreciate the extensive Link organization and the efforts ASF students make to welcome newcomers). On the retreat, everyone was there to make the new students feel welcome and make friends. No one was afraid to let go and
House Fun Lower School’s House Fun Day brought around 300 people to campus on September 24 for arts and crafts, games, races and a picnic lunch. Congratulations to Cummings, the winning house, which brought in 42 points in the friendly, yearlong competition between houses. 5