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FSS Overview
FSS Overview
The goal of Freshman Strong Start Week is to provide incoming 9th graders at EPIC Academy with a “strong start” to the school year. The transition from elementary school to high school can be both exciting and challenging, so Freshman Strong Start Week is crucial in helping the incoming 9th grade class adjust to high school, build community with their fellow classmates and become familiar with EPIC faculty and staff.
The goal of Freshman Strong Start Week is to provide incoming 9th graders at EPIC Academy with a “strong start” to the school year. The transition from elementary school to high school can be both exciting and challenging, so Freshman Strong Start Week is crucial in helping the incoming 9th grade class adjust to high school, build community with their fellow classmates and become familiar with EPIC faculty and staff.
During the first two days of Freshman Strong Start Week, all freshmen attend their first semester classes, allowing them the opportunity to navigate the new environment as well as learn more about the structures and resources available to them at EPIC Academy. For the last three days of Freshman Strong Start Week, the freshman class attends the Freshman Strong Start Retreat (FSSR), a 3-day overnight retreat in Three Rivers, Michigan.
During the first two days of Freshman Strong Start Week, all freshmen attend their first semester classes, allowing them the opportunity to navigate the new environment as well as learn more about the structures and resources available to them at EPIC Academy. For the last three days of Freshman Strong Start Week, the freshman class attends the Freshman Strong Start Retreat (FSSR), a 3-day overnight retreat in Three Rivers, Michigan.
The Freshman Strong Start Retreat aims to create space for incoming freshman to build community with their peers as well as EPIC Academy staff. The retreat also fosters challenging individual and collaborative experiences that encourage students to actively engage in the 5 EPIC Academy Values: Growth, Resourcefulness, Excellence, A+ Commitment and Tenacity. The retreat kicks off with a college visit and scavenger hunt at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN and is followed by a variety of team building activities, ropes/challenge courses, field games, and more.
The Freshman Strong Start Retreat aims to create space for incoming freshman to build community with their peers as well as EPIC Academy staff. The retreat also fosters challenging individual and collaborative experiences that encourage students to actively engage in the 5 EPIC Academy Values: Growth, Resourcefulness, Excellence, A+ Commitment and Tenacity. The retreat kicks off with a college visit and scavenger hunt at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN and is followed by a variety of team building activities, ropes/challenge courses, field games, and more.
FSS - Monday/Tuesday
FSS - Monday/Tuesday
All staff members are present for a regularly scheduled school day (except for an extended Crew). Freshman will receive schedules at the beginning of the day and go to their first period class. Teachers will help familiarize students with their content, begin establishing routines/expectations, and start building a strong, warm learning environment. Teachers at other grade levels will be: helping student intake, supervising and supporting students in the hallways and at lunch, making calls to parents for the Freshmen Strong Start retreat, or pulling students from classes to do IRI reading testing.
FSS - Wed/Thurs/Fri
FSS - Wed/Thurs/Fri
The retreat is designed to give students their first exposure to college, provide students with intentional time to build relationships with staff (particularly Crew teachers) and peers, and foster challenging individual and collaborative experiences that will enhance their character. When students arrive, they go to Crew until departure time. At 9:30am, students load buses and head to the University of Notre Dame to eat lunch and complete a scavenger hunt. Afterward, all buses head to camp where each Crew follows a schedule of activities over the course of two days.
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