The Office: The Getaway Plan

I asked Mrs. Harvey a really silly question today. I knew it was silly as soon as the words started coming out of my mouth.

“Is there anything going on in your office today?”

Mrs. Harvey was gracious. She didn’t raise her brows, roll her eyes, or act incredulous that someone who works out of another Shepherds College office could possibly ask such an absurd thing. She didn’t make me feel like a goober by responding, “Well, of course there’s something going on in my office today! I’m not sitting around praying the phone rings so I have something to do!” 

Instead, the lovely lady laughed with excitement and said, “We’re planning the retreat for the students!!”

She then went on to tell me of all the preparation going on in offices around the campus to make sure this year’s retreat is the best one ever!

Here’s a run-down of what’s in the works today:

The theme for the two-day retreat is T.E.A.M., an acrostic for Together, Engaged, Authority and Mission. Each teacher was assigned a letter of T.E.A.M. and is currently focused on creating, finding, gathering and printing materials to help the students understand their aspect of teamwork.

The students are going off campus for the second day of the retreat so the college staff is working with the nursing staff to make sure the correct meds are packed.

An odd assortment of supplies is accumulating in the offices: peanut butter, blindfolds, parking cones, 25 feet of rope, puzzles, flower vases, checkered flags, signs that say “Fueling Station…”

Retreat t-shirts have arrived and are ready to pass out.

Front of the t-shirt

Back of the t-shirt. It's a Wordle!

Staff is making paper mache balls. 

People are grocery shopping for the fueling stations.

Seating charts are being filled out for a fancy dinner.

I’m hearing whispers about Academic Advisors wearing black, Italian dinners, desserts at Country Rose, Belgian horses, pizza, board games, Camp Timber-Lee, trail rides, animal encounters, and towing Mr. Andrus on a Snow Beast?? Hmmm…

What could it all mean?

I’m not really sure at this point. 

I do know that it’s going to be fascinating, it involves a lot of planning, and Mrs. Harvey is definitely not sitting around praying for the phone to ring.

Watch this blog, as well as Facebook and Twitter for more news and pictures on the retreat.



Shepherds College - Guiding Your Transition to Appropriate Independence. Please visit us at www.shepherdscollege.edu.