Summer is officially here! The school year has ended and the sun is shining, so naturally the UI staff joined together to celebrate a successful year! This staycation could not have been better, with plenty of time to bond, play games, and soak up some sun.
We started the day by reflecting on the year’s accomplishments and areas for improvement, both individually and as a group. Our staff has set big goals and high expectations for ourselves in the coming year. One activity that resonated with many of us was a discussion about the values we hold most important and how they relate to our work. Many of us chose values such as empowerment, hunger, fun, and teamwork. This activity was a great way to learn more about what motivates each of us and how to keep that momentum going through the fall season.
For the second half of the day, we hopped on a trolley and jammed out to some great throwbacks. Our trolley took us to a beach in Rogers Park where we played beach soccer, hit the volleyball around, tossed some cornhole, and had an intense tournament of Spike Ball. Coach Eugene and Coach Frank were an unstoppable duo. The rest of the staff will now spend our free time practicing so next time we can take them down! For those who wanted to soak up the sun, we had an assortment of snacks, beach chairs, and La Croix for everyone.
It was the perfect way to end the school year and rejuvenate before we start back up again in the fall. Although summer is great, we’re looking forward to getting back out there and spending time with our incredible kids.