Student bonding takes on new — and painful — meaning

Seniors Justin Bertram and Nate Sloan unofficially made concert choir a contact sport when they collided in a skit. Despite the accident, concert choir members were able to enjoy the annual retreat on Flathead Lake.

“It was a really good experience as far as getting to know everybody and the teacher,” said sophomore Orrin Englishbee. “Usually the closer the choir, the better they sing.”

Choir members were also able to fit the more traditional elements of choir retreat into their agenda on Friday and Saturday with a little rehearsal and a lot of bonding.
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“Bonding with each other and the director ­ that’s what choir retreat is all about,” said senior Ty Watkins.

Bonding with each other posed a greater importance this year than previous years largely because of a new choir director, Catherine Robinson.

“I didn’t think she was going to be quite as good as Mr. Allen-Schmid,” said senior Ellie Stebbins. “But she definitely changed our minds about that. I didn’t expect her to be so energetic.”

Not only did the students not know what to expect, but neither did Robinson, being the new choir teacher for the year that Kevin Allen­Schmid will be in the Canary Islands.

“I just feel coming to Flathead was the right decision for me to make and I’m just glad I’m here,” said Robinson. “I feel that way about all the choirs. The retreat really solidified my decision.”

Both veteran and first-time concert choir members have something to appreciate about the choir retreat.

“The senior class didn’t do any hazing or anything, which I was expecting,” said sophomore Josh Berg. “Everybody’s nice and nobody is more popular than anyone else.”

Getting to know each other seemed  to be the theme for the choir retreat this year.

“Overall it was a really bonding experience for the choir,” said senior April Walker. “It didn’t just concentrate on the singing part of choir but also on the relationships with each other and Mrs. Robinson.”

And the good feelings about choir were felt all around.

“So many of them included me in their sharing; I felt really special,” said Robinson. “I haven’t felt like that in a long time in at new position. I was honored.”