The 2022-2023 school year is off to a great start! Below you will find a recap of First Friday, the orientation day for Upper School students.
MORNING
9th grade kicked off grade-specific activities with a fast-paced Amazing Race around campus. One clue at a time, students familiarized themselves with campus as they tracked down challenges to earn points. In one room, students were given a budget and tasked with designing contraptions to protect eggs from a high drop. In another, players attempted to organize themselves on top of a plank without falling off. Teammates got to know one another very quickly as they sprinted around from station to station, laughing as they set off the buzzer in Operation and smiling for selfies with some of Beaver’s most iconic landmarks.
10th grade began the day with a Murder Mystery game. As the saga of corruption, money, and lies unfolded, it was up to the students to track down the identity of the killer. Clues could be found in instruction documents and from comparing notes with other players across the room. Of course, the cast of eccentric characters telling the story also dropped a few hints. As the clock ticked down and suspects began to dwindle, students started to (literally) point their fingers at who they believed was guilty.
In 11th grade, students met for a brainstorming and development session focused on passing down knowledge and experience to 9th graders at Beaver. As emerging leaders of the school, this exercise was a great opportunity for students to ponder questions such as “what’s something you’d do differently if you were a 9th grader again?” and “where do you feel most at home on campus?” In the next couple of weeks, the information and materials 11th graders came up with will be shared with 9th grade.
As for 12th grade, they began their First Friday much earlier than the rest of the school (at sunrise, to be exact!). The class of 2023 opted to meet at Larz Anderson Park to watch the sunrise with donuts and coffee. Later on, 12th graders had a period of time dedicated to getting a jumpstart on the college process and to prepare for the year ahead of them.
AFTERNOON
In the afternoon, students broke out of grade-specific activities and instead enjoyed the festivities in groups comprised of all grade levels. These groups, otherwise known as “Isotopes,” are subdivisions of the Houses all students will remain in for the rest of the year.
Walking around campus on First Friday, it would be hard to believe that it was only day four of the new school year! In every hallway and classroom, students were coming together to conquer activities such as posing with the Beaver mascot for a photo booth, finishing the lyrics to popular songs, stacking milk crates as high as they can go, and untangling a human knot. When one activity ended another always began, giving students the chance to build community across grades. Check out our Instagram Reel to see some of the fun!
Afterwards, students met for an Upper School meeting. After they got a chance to practice a school chant (“BEAVER, BEAVER, BEAVER!”), they were surprised with a Kona Ice Truck to finish out the day.
This was certainly a First Friday to remember!