Friday, March 5, 2010

Winter Activities Are Clear Favorites!


During the last several weeks students at Oak Creek Ranch School have had a number of choices for their weekend activities. They could spend time at a local skateboard park, attend the Arizona Sundogs minor league hockey team game, shop at the mall, organize a Super Bowl part, or play in pool, chess and ping pong ball tournaments on campus. Some joined our regularly scheduled activities like movie night, bowling or trail riding on horseback.

However, this time of year, . Snowboarding and skiing at the Arizona Snow Bowl, just north of Flagstaff and watching the Phoenix Coyotes at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale have been the clear favorites! Here are recent photos of Oak Creek Ranch School students taking advantage of the winter fun.




Thursday, February 25, 2010

Three Outstanding Students Earn MIKKO Leadership Status

On January 26, Oak Creek Ranch School's Headmaster David Wick, Jr. and Dean of Residential Life Jim Graves announced that Jason L. (senior, middle), Zach B. (junior, right) and Willie S. (sophomore, left) had been advanced to the MIKKO level for excellence in leadership. Only three out of 70 of students at this co-ed Arizona boarding school have risen to MIKKO level of excellence in leadership during this academic calendar year.

“Mikko” is a Native American word for “leader” or “guide,” and it is the highest level students can achieve though a demonstration of exceptional behavior and performance inside and outside of the classroom. A Mikko-level honorary designation, which can only be awarded by the headmaster, is reserved for students who demonstrate superior leadership within their dormitories, classrooms and extracurricular activities and who have gone eight weeks or more without receiving any behavioral notices.

Here’s a closer look at the three students who earned this distinguished award:

Jason always demonstrates a positive attitude, and has been an asset in his dorm - demonstrating leadership as a dorm assistant, working hard in class and making the right choices wherever he is. Whether playing soccer or basketball, he is always a good sport. His behavior reflects that he believes it is important for him to act “responsibly, honorably, and with integrity.”

Zach takes pride in being a good role model in class and beyond it. A quiet and reserved student, he is a fantastic leader. In addition to leading by example, Zach makes himself available to other students who need help making better decisions – looking out for others and finding an appropriate way to warn them of consequences when they are about to make a mistake. He also strives to be a great friend to fellow students.

Leadership is a new experience for Willie, and he has embraced it with enthusiasm. When contemplating leadership, Willie says he strives to follow the example of other leaders he has known. As a dorm assistant, he has been an asset to his dorm advisor, helping students get out of bed, follow-through on chores and exhibit a good attitude. “I know I can help this school and set a good example for people that are having trouble expressing themselves in a positive way,” Willie said.

Currently, more than 70 percent of students at Oak Creek Ranch School have achieved the APENIMON level. “Apenimon” is another Native American word meaning “worthy of trust.” Students at this level have exhibited trustworthy behaviors, have not broken any major rules and have earned five or fewer behavioral notices. APENIMON-ranked students are able to participate in all the off-campus activities.

“Oak Creek Ranch School’s residential program and honorary designations are based on choices and consequences. When students are making good decisions for themselves, they enjoy access to everything the school has to offer,” said Dean of Residential Life Jim Graves. “However, when they continually make poor choices, they start missing out on the recreational opportunities. Learning personal responsibility begins with understanding that behaviors have consequences. When students make that connection, they ask themselves, ‘Is what I am about to do going to help me in the long run or prevent me from being able to do what I like to do?’”

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Buzzer Sounds on Boys’ Basketball Season

The season has come to a close for the Oak Creek Ranch School boys’ basketball team. With a loss to Young High School and a forfeit win over Luepp High School, the OCRS Wildcats – who finished the season with an 8-7 record – ended up just one win short of qualifying for the championship tournament that begins tomorrow, Friday, Feb.19th in Prescott.

“More important than the stats were the efforts and improvements the boys made over the course of the season,” said Coach Imler. “The boys have a lot to be proud of.”

Next up for OCRS sports program is softball with Coach Hernandez, soccer with Coach Galley and golf with Athletic Director/Coach Ireland. More than 40 students have signed up to play spring sports.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Upcoming Events: March 2010



Early March (6th or 7th), 2010 - Ms. Foutz & Learn Outdoors
Experience the Central Valley of Arizona from the best perspective there is, the seat of a kayak. We will wander through the secluded waterways of the Verde River exploring rapids and Cliff Dwellings along the way.
Minimum 8 People, Maximum 10 People



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March 14-20, 2010 - Channel Islands Coastal Exploration
The Channel Islands, known as the Galapagos of North America, are rich in history and beauty. While camping on Santa Cruz Island, the largest and most diverse of the islands within the park, we will explore this natural wonder by land and sea. With the help of Sea Kayaks we will set out into the waves to paddle into sea caves and possibly encounter sea lions in our travels. To gain a birds-eye view of the island, we will hike to the highest point to capture some amazing photographs. Experience the trip of a lifetime to a destination most Americans don't even know exists.
Please sign up as soon as possible as this trip is filling up quickly! Sign up deadline: 3/1/10

The trip will consist of camping on the rim of the Grand Canyon and taking day hikes throughout the canyon area, including down into the canyon. It will require a good pair of shoes for hiking and warm clothing, as it still can be cold at that elevation of the canyon.
Students will work together to finish the Peter Max inspired painting on the front of the campus art building and continue the painting on the north side. Students must have some experience to be pre-approved for this group. Students will also participate in at least one field trip to view other murals in the area.
Job-Shadowing is for students who are enthusiastic about volunteering and learning all they possibly can about a chosen field. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to experience what it’s like to work in a particular job and profession. Students will be ‘on the job’ from 9:00am until 2:30 pm, Monday through Friday. They will be expected to be prompt, responsible, courteous and enthusiastic about learning everything possible within the week. Each student will write a summary of his/her experience during this week and a formal “thank you” letter to their mentor. Students must be 16 years or older to participate.
Kayak the scenic desert canyons of the Verde River and master needed skills to enjoy water adventures safely. Learn snorkeling including the art of free-diving. Improve swim strokes and work on rescue skills.
This activity is a great way to either learn how to fish or to further develop your fishing skills. We will be exploring many of the Verde Valley fishing hotspots on a daily basis. We will examine various baits and lures, how to rig your tackle, how to tie knots, and how to effectively catch fish!
This group will travel to Phoenix on March 16th, 17th and 18th to attend Major League Baseball Spring Training games. We will watch games involving the Cubs, Brewers, Indians, Padres, Angels, Rangers, Dodgers and Rockies. On Friday all participants will take a test of their acquired Baseball knowledge and prepare for a school-wide presentation. Students will be asked to understand all the rules and strategies used during the games. Bring your gloves and autograph pens. Time permitting; we will stop in Rock Springs for homemade Apple Pie.
We will spend the week exploring the area on horseback. Monday will be spent assigning horses, review of grooming, tacking, tying knots, checking equipment, and reviewing general first aid techniques. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday will be spent exploring the area, having lunch on the trail. Plan on a minimum of 4 to 5 hours in the saddle each day. We will end the week cleaning and oiling tack, bathing horses, complete a reflective writing assignment and of course, cleaning the corral.
Mountain biking will cover the trails of the Verde Valley. We will ride the trails of Deadhorse Loop in Cottonwood, the Mesa Loop near the school and Seven Falls, Llama, and Templeton trails in Sedona. Bikes, helmets, and water bottles are provided. Participants bring your legs, lungs, and desire!
This group will tour sites for 2 days in Arizona known for their mysterious, haunted and supernatural characteristics. During the remaining days we will watch documentaries on mysterious things such as UFO’s, Sasquatch, Hauntings, and the Bermuda Triangle.
Each day will begin and end with a classic or epic movie. In between, class members will get off the couch to experience some fantastic and lesser known Sedona hikes. These hikes will include Cathedral Rock/Big Park Saddle, Outlaw Bike Trail, Enchantment Ruins, Snoopy’s Belly and Bear Wallow.
Learn to make your own belts, bookmarks and other useful and decorative leather items! Students will learn the basic leather techniques of dyeing, punching, tooling, stamping, stitching, lacing and finishing during this one-week activity. After learning to dye, stamp, lace, stitch color and finish two small projects, we will make a belt that will help students build on these same skills. During a trip to the nearest Tandy leather store, each student will have the opportunity to select a kit and spend the balance of the week completing their chosen project.

Friday, January 15, 2010

A Great Week For the OCRS Basketball Team!

It was a great week for the Oak Creek Ranch School varsity basketball team. The team defeated Southwest Academy of Rimrock on Wednesday and American Heritage Academy of Cottonwood on Thursday. In the 43 to 33 win over Southwest the OCRS high scorers were: Charles J with 14 points., Jason L. with 12 points., and new student Nate P. with 6 points. The OCRS Wildcats outscored opponent, American Heritage by 44 to 22. High scorers were: Charles J. with 16 points, Andrei G. John E. and Jason L tied with 6 points each. Michael H. and Stephen K. each contributed 4 points. The hard work has paid off. The OCRS varsity basketball team has been invited to participate in the post season tournament to be held Feb. 19th in Prescott, Arizona. Congratulations everyone!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

OCRS Prepares for All-Women's Weekend 2010

Oak Creek Ranch School, an Arizona boarding school, in conjunction with Learn Outdoors, is hosting its Second Annual Young Women’s Weekend from January 29 to 31 at a beautiful cabin in the Prescott National Forest. The all-girls getaway is open to OCRS students from grades 7 to 10. The 2010 Young Women’s Weekend, which is a counterpart to the OCRS Boys to Men mentoring program, features an activities lineup created by the middle school students. Here’s a sneak preview.

Volunteers from Prescott College and several local women’s organizations will provide classes and lead discussions about topics such as:
· avoiding drama and dealing with rumors
· getting along with family members
· building friendships and keeping friends
· learning to be open-minded
· developing honesty and integrity

Activities will include:
· repelling at the Prescott Dells
· yoga
· meal preparation
· karaoke night
· slumber party with movies and popcorn
· amazing makeovers

Student Testimonials from 2009 Attendees
OCRS:
What would you tell your friends about the OCRS Women’s Weekend?
Sara: “I would tell them it is an awesome experience and to go into it with an open mind. Don’t be afraid to do the exercises!”

OCRS: Would you agree this weekend was a success? If so, why?
Taylor: “Yes! I got a lot out of it by bonding and becoming so much closer to all the girls and women! I definitely gained 20 new best friends. Thanks!”

To learn more about this co-ed boarding school, please visit http://www.ocrs.com/.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Oak Creek Ranch School to Rock in 2010 with New Mini Class

This semester, the curriculum at Oak Creek Ranch School (OCRS) is getting into the groove with a new mini class called “The History of Rock and Roll.” The course is being taught by Mr. Noel Marquis, whose love affair with music began more than a half-century ago.

At the tender age of 11, Mr. Marquis gave his heart away to rhythm and blues – a musical style he came to know through his neighbors. But when rock 'n' roll surfaced in the 1950’s, it stole his heart, causing him to become so smitten with music that he resorted to smuggling records into his house to listen to his favorite artists at whim, among them Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly.

Mr. Marquis went off to college in the 1960s. The university environment and laid-back culture of the decade expanded his musical repertoire to include folk and hootenanny, a revival-style gathering of musicians desiring to share their original work. The genre was best described by folk singer Joan Baez in a 1962 interview with Time magazine: “Hootenanny is to folk what jam sessions are to jazz.”

Around the same time that folk and hootenanny reached their greatest heights, The Beatles launched “The British Invasion,” ultimately taking over as the era’s most significant musical force. It was also a force in Mr. Marquis’s life, and the songs of John, Paul, Ringo and George led him back to his rock 'n' roll roots. Once again, he returned to cultivating his impressive collection of albums and attending concerts; in the early 1970s, he launched a “History of Rock and Roll” course at Franklin College.

In 1976, Mr. Marquis’s wife opened a record store in Franklin, Ind., which the family ran for nearly two decades. Over the years, he and his wife got to know popular musicians through meet-and-greets organized by record distributors, the band Foreigner, as well as rocker Eddie Money, whose daughter attended OCRS a few years ago. From 1978 to 1999, Mr. Marquis worked at the Market Arena in Indianapolis where he saw more than 30 concerts. He joined OCRS as a teacher soon after.

For Mr. Marquis, rock ‘n’ roll has always been more than a hobby, it has been a passion – one he excited to share with students this semester. His record collection features more than 5,000 LPs. This means OCRS students will not only learn about rock ‘n’ roll, they’ll get to experience it loud and clear. This course is sure to be one of OCRS’s greatest hits.

For more information about this mini class, the other diverse electives and ADD/ADHD-oriented programming offered at this co-ed Arizona boarding school in 2010, please contact Principal Nadine O’Brien (principal@ocrs.com) or Headmaster David Wick, Jr. (dwick@ocrs.com). Or learn more at www.ocrs.com.