For the fourth year in a row, the school year is being kicked off by the Ambrose Upper School Retreat. Bags were packed, and buses were loaded as all of our 7th – 12th grade students got ready to enjoy two days of chapel, house events, and community-building games at Quaker Hill Conference Center in McCall.

The upper school retreat has three goals: 1. To promote unity in the Houses and between students and faculty; 2. To give solid biblical teaching that sets the tone for the year; 3. To deal with logistics and culture that is specific to the Ambrose Upper School.

The retreat days are considered ‘school’ days because they are so critical to the functioning and the community of our upper school. All upper school students are assigned to a “house” when they enter the school. This classical system of intramural activity began in boarding schools, and provides excellent leadership and camaraderie across grades. At the retreat, 7th graders and ‘new to the school’ students learn what house they will be in, and the games begin! Houses provide a community within a community, friendly competition, and mentorship between the older and younger students.

Students return from the retreat exhausted, a little dirty, but ready to begin the school year together.