OCRS News

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Honors Picnic - An OCRS Tradition

Each year in May, Oak Creek Ranch School takes the Honor students off campus for a picnic. On Wednesday May 1, Mrs. O’Brien, Dr. Yassi, Mr. Galley, Ms. Karczewski and Mr. Graves took the students to Red Rock Crossing State Park for a fun filled day of playing in Oak Creek and enjoying a BBQ Chicken lunch. The honor students were able to play in the creek, work on their tans and enjoy a day away from school.

Please click here to view the 2013 Honors Picnic photo album.

Oak Creek Ranch School is an co-ed boarding school for teens, ages 13-19 (grades 7-12). For 40 years OCRS has specialized in helping ADD,ADHD, and undermotivated boys and girls become successful students. The Arizona Boarding School is located near Sedona, Arizona, 100 miles north of Phoenix. Enrollments are accepted year round. Three summer boarding school sessions are available that are tailored to help students with learning differences succeed. For more information please visit us online at http://www.ocrs.com

A Haunting Adventure for OCRS Students

We started the week researching the background of ghost towns and where we could find them in Arizona. After identifying several of the better-known destinations, we began our tour at nearby Anasazi ruins called Palatki. Students climbed to the cliff dwelling ruin, then learned about the history of petroglyphs from a forest ranger.The next stop was Jerome, a self-styled “Ghost City.” We took our time, roaming the century-old graveyard, which offered a perfect hillside view and photo opportunities. Next, we were off to Gold King mine, a re-creation of a 19^th century gold mine, complete with ancient machines and vehicles.

After regrouping, the students decided they should tour as many of the other ghost towns as first identified, as possible. The tour continued with Cordes, Cleator and Crown King. Cordes was a sort of a bust with only a General Store to wander. Cleator, which was supposed to have interesting mining-era photos and artifacts, might have lived up to its reputation but nothing was open. We did stop briefly for a group picture on the steps of the General Store and students had fun taking photos of some of the old homes, although many still seem to be occupied. So much for that ghost town. On to the next.

For lunch, we headed to Crown King, visited some of the historic buildings and drove around the area absorbing the historic atmosphere.

The crowning achievement of our week proved to be the “Haunted Jerome” tour. OCRS adventure week students were excited to tour two of the historic hotels in town and hear first-hand accounts of haunting in some of the rooms. Before the tour had ended, it was obvious all the talk of ghost towns and haunted houses was wearing off. Just before the tour ended, one student was certain he heard sepulchral sounds coming from the office!

All in all, this OCRS group of students agreed this was definitely a very entertaining and educational week.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Wildcat Softball Domination

The Wildcat roar still echoes over Oak Creek and the 17-acre campus on which the boarding school thrives. Fresh out from a double-header victory over Copper Canyon Academy, Oak Creek Ranch School won decisive battles over Rimrock, 11-10 and 17-4.

Though the Wildcats squeaked by with a single run victory in the first game, they overpowered their opponents in the second game, despite being a player short on the field.

Among the highlights of the two games, Kaitlin pitched both, earning two more wins to her growing record. Jake added a grand slam to his repertoire of batting; power and placement. And Riley and Ed starred in the outfield, backing up any passed balls and placing themselves under fly balls strategically.

Overall, the Wildcats have placed themselves in an ideal position for the upcoming tournaments. They are in strong favor to come home with a trophy, already champions on and off the field.

Spring Dance Celebrates a Great Year at Oak Creek Ranch School!

Gangnam Style? Check. Harlem Shake? Check. Conga line? Check. Break dancing? Check.

Name the dance, the Oak Creek Ranch School students, staff, and faculty performed it to usher in the new season thanks to the 2013 Spring Fling.

Held Wednesday, April 24, at the Clarkdale Memorial Hall, a van load of OCRS students arrived early to assist faculty with decorating the historic hall. An hour later, the school’s student body waltzed through the double doors, each with a strut that accompanied the beats that boomed through Dr. Yassi’s sound system.

The evening seemed short, as do all occasions in fun, but it was unforgettable. It was a celebration to mark the upcoming end of year. It was the beginning of a countdown to finishing one part of your life and moving on to the next.

Next year there will be different dance moves, but there will never be another school year like 2013.

Click here to view the 2013 Spring Dance photo album.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Adventure week at Oak Creek Ranch School: If you build it, they will come!

The ghostly voice in “The Field of Dreams” starring Kevin Costner whispers, “If you build it, he will come.” This is a similar mantra Ms. Foutz and Mr. Schieve have been chanting, though there isn’t a “he” or a “she,” there’s a THEY!

“If we build it, they will come,” says Schieve, relating their Adventure Week to the popular film. “And considering we have nearly ten students excited to mix and match local adventures, it appears we’ve got a lot of expectations to uphold.”

“During this week we will explore as many intriguing places as we can find! Together, we will design a week filled with adventure and thrills,” says Foutz. “Along the way, we will learn new things as a group. We have come up with a list of ideas from which to choose from, but we are not limited to these. Students will be encouraged to add their ideas so we can have a fun week filled with laughter and growth.”

Of the various adventures planned, students will visit Elifante, go to Jerome to tour art studios, hike the Verde Valley, and take a Jeep tour of Sedona, not to mention visit some Indian ruins and other cultural activities.

If you build it, he will come. He, she, and many others.

Haunted Arizona

Mr. O’Brien has taken creativity to a new level this year. By combining fun and fright, he’s founded a trip he calls “Haunted Arizona.”

“We will visit haunted sites around us,” O’Brien says. “Where ghosts are also reported as regular visitors.”

O’Brien will lead a half dozen students to Jerome for a tour of sites in and among “Ghost City.” He has set up a tour of the haunted Vulture Peak where thirteen would-be thieves were trapped in a cave-in, not to mention various other ghost town tours throughout Arizona. One of the highlights is a trip to Haunted Hamburger, a famous diner in the infamous mining town of Jerome.

“We will take pictures everywhere we go,” O’Brien adds. “Maybe we can capture some spectral images.”

In addition to the tours and dining and photography, the week will culminate in an on-line presence as students create blogs of his or her best photos.

All in all, the trip will be raising some questions on local history while raising the hairs on the backs of necks.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Human Chess at OCRS

Monday, March 4, Mr. Galley introduced the Oak Creek Ranch School Annual Human Chess Tournament, this time between long-standing chess rivals – and peers – Ed and Eric. Eric, a pupil of Galley’s Chess Class for the past four years, represented the black pieces. Ed, a rising star in Wildcat chess, represented the white pieces.

In a well-fought display, students decorated in the medieval garb designed by Ms. Etgen fell to the wayside, skewered, stabbed, thrown from the board out of play. Pawns plummeted. Rooks rolled. Bishops went belly up. Weeks of strategy studied and executed paid off.

“Both Eric and Ed orchestrated an exciting game beforehand filled with bold moves and exciting exchanges,” Mr. Galley said. “The student body was kept on their toes as the two Generals dueled it out for nearly 20 minutes. They did a great job.”