RETREAT LETTER
DEAR PARENTS
We will be taking your student’s class on retreat at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg, Kansas. This is an overnight retreat and considered part of our school’s curriculum. We expect all students to attend. We will return to St. James before the end of the school day Friday on Friday, and the students that were on retreat will be dismissed shortly after their return to St. James (normally about 2:30). The students not on retreat will not be released early. Our teachers and administrative staff will be leading this retreat. We will be praying a Novena to the Holy Spirit in preparation for this retreat and we ask that your family please begin praying the Novena prayer with our community nine days before the retreat begins.
Students will be expected to arrive at school no later than 7:30 a.m. to check-in in the gym and prepare for Mass which will begin at 8:00 a.m. We will load the buses and depart by 8:45 a.m. Our expected time of arrival at Prairie Star Ranch will be 10:00 a.m. We will be focusing on community building, Christian leadership development, and the interior life. Students will not need to wear their uniform. They will want to be dressed in comfortable, warm, casual, modest clothing that can get dirty (no ball caps, or hats of any kind). We will be outside.
The boys and girls will have separate bunk houses with locking doors. It will be necessary for the students to bring a sack lunch, refillable water bottle, pillow, bedding or sleeping bag (all pillows and bedding to be in a trash bag), comfortable modest clothes (no ball caps or hats, leggings, yoga pants, or writing on the back side) that can get dirty, 2 pair of tennis shoes, toiletries (including shampoo/soap), a towel, Bible, rosary, journal & pen, flashlight and any medications they usually take. Please have a small bag to carry your Bible, rosary, journal and pen. Any prescription or over the counter medication your child will need must be placed in a ziplock bag in its original container with the child’s name on the bag and the medication form (attached) inside the bag. Students must turn the bag into the nurse immediately upon arrival at school the morning of the retreat.
To ensure a fun, spirit filled and safe retreat experience for all, we will check all baggage thoroughly before the retreat begins. School rules will be enforced including no cameras, mp3 players, cell phones or valuables. Food will be provided and students may not have food outside of the dining hall. Food, gum and candy will not be permitted in the sleeping dorms. If your student has specific food needs please contact the school nurse to make arrangements no later than one week before the retreat.
We will need parent volunteers to help prepare/serve/cleanup meals during the retreat. If you are able to volunteer to help with a meal, sign up here. Parent Retreat Volunteers
We are looking forward to a great retreat experience for all. If you need to reach us while we are at Prairie Star Ranch, please call (785) 746-5693.
In Christ,
Faith Formation Team
