Soccer

So this year's soccer team had a rough season, but they stayed in high hopes!  Sadly, I did not get a chance to start attending games until the last 5 of the season.  We had many really close matches, and, in our last home game, we beat East Moline Christian in a shut out!  We had previously lost to them, so it was a very satisfying victory in our last home game.  I cannot wait to see the students return next year even stronger!

Below are the scores.  Bold are home games.

September

3rd (Friday):  @ Quad Cities Christian (5:00) (L  0-5)
7th (Tuesday):  Maharishi (5:00) (L 0-3)

10th (Friday):  @ Cono (5:00) (L 1-4)

13th (Monday):  Quad Cities Christian (5:00) (L 1-4)17th (Friday):  @ East Moline Christian (5:00) (L 0-1)
21st (Tuesday):  Cedar Valley Christian (5:00) (2-2 lost in shootout)
28th (Tuesday):  Cono (5:00) (L 2-3)

October

1st (Friday):  @ Maharishi (5:00) (L 1-9)
12th (Tuesday):  East Moline Christian (5:00) (W 3-0) 

15th (Friday):  Tournament Game @ Maha (L 1-4) 

Go Crew!!!

Camping weekend ... a little late, but still fresh on my mind.

Hey all

Sorry it has been so long since there has been an update. School days fly by fast when you're having fun (or unbelievably inundated with work!). I cannot believe we are already at the end of block 2 and a quarter of the way through the year! I have never seen or felt a school year accelerate so quickly!

I want to write this entry for one main reason: I want to update you all on our camping weekend that happened at the end of Block One. On Friday, September 24^th, the entire school piled tents, sleeping bags, students and faculty into a myriad of vans and cars and headed toward Kent State Park. Friday was a lovely afternoon/evening! Once we got the home base set up, many of us kicked off the weekend with games of Frisbee, “roof ball”, and foursquare (my personal favourite). After dinner, Friday night continued with indoor games and singing. The love that filled the pavilion that evening was unparalleled.

Sadly, Saturday morning, we awoke in our tents after a night's sleep to the sound of rain … and this rain continued throughout the day and evening. A few light spots throughout the day afforded some outdoor play, like hiking through the nearby woods, but rain did not stop a very wet game of ultimate Frisbee. While some ventured out into the rain to explore the area or partake in sport, others sought the refuge of the pavilion and stayed indoors making friendship bracelets and other crafts or playing (and teaching) card games like Euchre.  A few of our students who had nail polish in tow decorated the nails of most of the school that afternoon (girls and guys, students and faculty alike); most people left camping weekend with some sort of decorative varnish on their nails. A lovely cook-out was held that night, with many warming themselves around the grill and then feasting on delicious burgers and potato salad.

That evening, we held a very beautiful Meeting for Worship around the indoor fireplace, to the gentle sound of the rain outside. Many returning students and faculty shared their journey over the past year and the growth that they have encountered since the last Scattergood camping weekend. Newer students shared their thoughts on their first camping weekend, and their initial thoughts about the school year thus far. I think the Meeting left us all very contemplative of ourselves and our school. After Meeting, many students and faculty sat outside in the cold playing guitar and singing. The community was lulled to sleep by the joyous sounds of singing in the rain.

Sunday morning was a community experience like no other – time to gather together, pack up, and head back home. Students cleared the campsites in record time and we had an abundance of helpers to clean the community areas. It was amazing to see this community work together in such a way that we left the campsite better than when we found it. As my first camping weekend, while I wish we had more sunshine, I really enjoyed the opportunity I had to get to know both students and faculty better. Many new games were learned, excellent food was consumed, and our community really grew. Every time I see a friendship bracelet on the wrist of a student, it makes me remember what a fun weekend it truly was. But after all the varnish is gone from our fingers and the bracelets fall off, we will still have amazing memories (and pictures!).

Watching a rousing game of roofball

Four square!  My fave!

Even the staff has a good time playing cards!  (or gets frustrated ... either way)

Rawr!

Good friends

The loudest table you will ever hear!  I think they sat at that table and played cards all day!

When you're bored ... make hair wraps!

Getting ready to go

It was not fun fitting four people's gear and four people in that little Beetle!

A rousing game of Ultimate!

Great faces

Ultimate in the rain.

Gooooood food.

Beautiful music

Catan!

Cozy fire.

Too many people in one room!

Action shot!

Thoughts from the class of 2014

In my Freshmen Seminar class last week, I had the students write about their first week at Scattergood: what their initial impressions were, what were the high points of the week, etc.  Here are the some of the things they had to say (with some pictures from our freshmen class campfire ... I am also a freshmen class sponsor :) )

Prodding the fire ...

"Being a new student anywhere, especially a freshman, can be pretty scary.  When I arrived with my parents, lunch was happening and I awkwardly made my way into the dining hall and sat down at a table of seniors (the only people there, other than new students and staff).  After a few hours, I got to know a few seniors and some of my fellow new students, and I felt better." 

Several students around the fire with Colleen, another freshmen sponsor.

"Oklahoma is pretty far from Scattergood, so driving here took a while.  While we were driving, I was sort of nervous about what Scattergood would be like.  What if I didn't make any friends?  What if I didn't like my roommate?  By the time we pulled up into the driveway to Scattergood, I was totally freaking out.  But when I entered the main lobby, everyone was really nice and helpful.  My roommate turned out to be really awesome and nice." 

"That's one of the things I like about Scattergood; you're friends with pretty much everyone, not just your class, or the people your age, everyone." 

Super cute!

"Monday began with me running at 6:30.  It was painfully early after several months of sleeping 'til 12." 

"I think this past week at Scattergood has been a good experience for me.  I like the first name basis and small community."

A student drew this on the back of his assignment.  I am not sure what it is, but I appreciate the creativity!

"Scattergood has always been a part of my life, and has imparted me with a sense of community and a place in this world. ... Now, when I am a student and not a staff child, my love for Scattergood has grown exponentially." 

Nordy (a freshmen class sponsor) with several students eating marshmellows.  Yum!

 "The best thing is the farm because it can let me eat a lot of fruits and vegetables."

"I love it here, but nothing feels quite like home.  Nowhere really does.  Slowly, it seems, it's becoming home.  Two weeks seem to be two months, and I'm starting to understand people, to know what a home feels like." 

Chowing down

"After traipsing around the ped-mall in Iowa City, we went and sat on a lawn of the University.  For some unknown reasons (we're teenagers, what do you expect) we decided to make a human pyramid, but no, we couldn't have the traditional three people kneeling on the ground, we had to have four.  After many hilarious attempts and really funny videos, we finally got one of the smaller freshmen onto the very top after climbing up us.  It lasted all of thirty seconds, but it was sure fun." 

Stare-down!

(Speaking of orientation) "Overall, for me, I loved every single thing about it.  I would not have changed a thing about it!" 

Big smiles from new students!

"When I heard we had to do the manual work around the campus, my reaction was to say: "Just as long as I don't have to do the dishes".  Of course, my very first crew is after dinner clean-up.  At first, I despaired, but after I talked to Jarrett, a senior, I learned I could wipe tables.  So now thats how I spend part of my weekday nights.  Dinner clean-up isn't half as bad as I thought it was going to be and I enjoy crew time. (Unless next block I get a dish doing crew ... )" 

Mmm...giant marshmellows.  Chubby bunny, anyone?

"I feel like Scattergood gives each individual the room to grow on their own, but it also gives each student support, and challenges them to be the best and do the best they can." 

"I feel like the next four years of my life could go very well." 

Yum!

"I'm here, and it's going to be tough, but it'll all turn out okay, that's what I say." 

A few new students, enjoying twilight (and I don't mean the movie!)

I want to extend a thank you to my freshmen for allowing me to share their thoughts about Scattergood thus far.  Keep coming back for more updates!

And, for now, we leave you with ....

Irving!

Welcome!

Hello students, staff, parents, alumni, and friends from around the world!  Welcome to Scatterstories, a blog that will document the happenings of Scattergood Friends School and Farm. 

This blog is an opportunity for all readers to hear the day-to-day happenings of the Scattergood community.  How it works: any member of the community (staff or students) will submit anything they would like to be posted.  This work can include fun and interesting happenings on campus, thoughts about the school and farm, pictures, creative works, or news about the school, farm, and community.  The blog will be embedded on the school's webpage (if you did not come across this blog through the school's site, please visit www.scattergood.org).  Basically, this is a great way to students and staff to express themselves and for all friends and family (or perspective friends and family) of the school to read about what's going on around campus. 

I am excited to get this project off the ground.  My Freshman Seminar class wrote some pretty insightful blog entries as an assignment this week, and I look forward to posting excerpts from those in the coming days. 

I hope you enjoy this peek into the incredible world that is Scattergood Friends School!

-Catherine From, Social Studies and Seminar teacher and maintainer of this blog.