Wentworth's summer school offers a supportive learning environment where young men and women are introduced to values such as self-discipline, integrity, teamwork and accountability. Among the exciting course offerings are Marine Biology with SCUBA certification and Inovations & Invention. All students benefit from our unique combination of military structure, academic enrichment and life-long skills development that foster habits of success. The best part is that you can see they have a fun time doing it.

Camp Lead was our place for firsts. Our daughter was "on her own" for the first time. We were enthusiastic about our choice of high school for the first time. She set and achieved goals way beyond what she ever thought was possible for the first time. I can honestly say it was the first six weeks of what we see as the path to her success. She begged to return for the academic year and we were happy to say "YES!".
Rebecca N. - Summer School Parent

Hi Folks,

All I can say is WOW! We had a great trip and everyone minus a few minor scrapes arrived home safely.

I will do my best to stay in chronological order of the fun but may jump around just a little.

We arrived on Thursday afternoon to our camp site none the worse for the wear although the air conditioners on the busses could not keep up with the number of bodies and the 98 degree temperature. Thursday night was dedicated to setting up our sleeping arrangements and some general relaxation. Our kids fished (more on this later) played basketball and sat around in big groups and visited. It was great to see all the kids interacting with one another and some new friendships were developed.

Back to the fishing; we have some cadets who have certainly done this before. Twin always had a pole in his hands and landed 15 fish, Itty Bitty was probably the most creative as he used fish guts for bait and was very successful. Itty did land a nice size bass (almost) as he pulled it from the water only to have the fish get free. Not to be defeated Itty want in after the fish but unfortunately to no avail. The title of the "Old Man in the Sea" would have to be shared by 3 very good fishermen. Shocker, A Speed and Whammer are all accomplished fishermen and know how to catch fish. The Walking Boss lost patience early although he never quit (we don't do that). Add Charlie Tuna to the list of dedicated fishermen however he spent as much time getting his line untangled as he did actually fishing. The biggest catch award went to Superman 2 as he landed a legitimate 18 inch bass; he was obviously very proud. The fishing frustration award would have to go to Cutter; the fish are well fed as his hook was always empty but no fish on the end of the line.

We had some really good soccer skills demonstrated every night; Soccer Girl, Zorro and Friend obviously have spent some time on the pitch; they are really talented athletes. In this light the ball did not always go where planned and often times ended up in the lake. Our resident retriever was the infamous Little Hawk; Little Hawk went after the ball even if it wasn't in the water.

The basketball court was the scene of some high quality action. Bobby Wonderful and Red Eye have obviously played some hoops in their past. Red Eye can shoot the three as I watched him hit 9 out of 10 from behind the arc. Bo Bo also showed some basketball skills as well as an ability to harass the old coach on a moments notice.

Off to the river for some serious frivolity on Friday morning. The water was very fresh (very cold) and swift. It was quite a sight to watch 35 canoes departing all at one time and with many having no clue on technique and little to no experience on driving this vehicle. The Ping Pong award for going from shore to shore and bouncing off anything in their path goes to Pogo and Froggy; neither had ever been in a canoe and it showed. By the end of the trip they had changed partners for one with more experience (thank goodness for that as everyone was in danger when they were close).

My canoe partner was the Pirate of the River or otherwise known as Tombstone. We were a dynamic duo as no one including ourselves stayed afloat very long. I counted being capsized 18 times at least. I was too cold and tired to keep track after 8 miles on the river. I don't know why everyone wanted me wet but they were all very good at getting and keeping me in the water. I think Tombstone was much braver with me in the canoe but he soon discovered we were sitting ducks for the rest of the group.

I found it very interesting to watch a canoe go by with no one paddling it, most of the time there was someone in the chase mode or hitching a ride with the next passing canoe. Some of the guys finally gave up and just body surfed for extended periods of time until their canoes resurfaced. Fire Dog, Traveler, Tiger, Little Big Man, T-Rex, Nebraska, Hockey Boy, Wrestler and others found a great diving log and displayed some very comical back flips and belly flops.

All was not lost though we did have several kids with some legitimate canoeing experience; Gunner was pretty handy at maneuvering by himself. We are still looking for his partner. (:

By the way Grammy gets the award for losing his flip flops early in the trip and the bottom of his feet will testify how tough he really is; those rocks are very unforgiving.

Did I mention that Big Little Bit needs a string for his pants? (:

I found out Big Horse (Happy Birthday- he got a bag of oats from his Dad and I for a present) doesn't like getting the water out of his canoe, as big as he is he could probably drink all the water in the canoe and have room to spare.

Little Sister, Frenchy, Cutie and Pumpkin were real troopers; they just kept getting back in their canoes and moving forward albeit at a very slow pace. Talks A Lot even got too cold to talk, never thought that would happen.

I think everyone was ready to get off the river and back in dry clothes after 7 glorious hours on the river. We concluded Friday night with a bonfire and s'mores. There was creative cooking in all kinds of ways. I saw fully cooked, fully burned, a light burn and complete destruction of the marshmallows. I cannot give you the total count of all that was eaten but Smoothy and Big Horse were right there in the lead. Piece of Cake was also very handy at devouring his share of chocolate and graham crackers.

Cool Hand Luke displayed some creativity in his ability to get a large quantity of food in his mouth without spilling a drop. Eats a Lot was also very good at keeping his marshmallows on his stick and then bypassing the other ingredients and just going for the gooey stuff. A special thanks to Pumpkin who made several trips to the fire to keep me supplied in marshmallows.

Others showed some great restraint; Fonzi, Knucklehead and Cat Daddy were very delicate in their preparation. Half Pint didn.t care and just ate everything that moved. Song Bird, Razorback and Sky King were relentless in their pursuit of the delicacy but did not overdo or at least I didn't see that part if they did. Gilligan was very coy in his preparation and do not let his slight frame fool you as he can consume food in large quantities.

Mowhawk, GT, and even Twig showed much more restraint than I would have thought although Mowhawk had marshmallow all over his shirt. Nightmare and Sprocket were very cautious in their approach but this did not diminish their ability to consume at a high level. Now Kitten didn't want to get too hot at the fire so she batted her eyes and had more marshmallows than she could eat.

I would be remiss if I didn't tell you about Fire Dog and his famous marshmallow tree; you could put at least 20 marshmallows on this incredible limb he brought out of the woods with Sleepy and Traveler

Off to the caves for some exploring on Saturday and then some pretty cool JROTC activities and some free swimming time in the lake and of course more fishing time for those so inclined.

By the time we arrived back on campus on Sunday afternoon we were all ready for some downtime. I think everyone was really tired, perhaps a bit cranky.

We were back in class Monday morning but I think it wouldn't take much to regroup and do the whole thing again.

On the fun-o-meter we were off the chart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Dragons

Coach

660-232-1109

Hi folks,

A belated week three and almost all of week 4 of Camp Lead; last week was a real whirlwind of activity and my plan to write after the 4th of July Celebration is running just a tad late.

Our kids are growing up; I have seen a dramatic change in attitudes and energy in almost every area. Without a question most will tell you they would rather not be in class and just do activities but life does not work in that manner; we all do things we don't like.

We are making some real progress in terms of study habits and organizational skills. Instant accountability is a real plus and having a book with all the assignments and work sheets eliminates the "dog ate my homework". As I walk the barracks at night some faces get real long when I ask to check their assignments and they tell me they are all completed. Upon review it is not uncommon to find "I forgot this assignment" or "I don't remember what to do". Thanks to Dr. Young who was very instrumental in developing this strategy we can almost ensure all work is completed and meeting the expectations of the teacher.

Test taking skills seems to be an area that we need to give more attention; this is very common where a student does well with homework and in class and then does not perform well on tests. We have a simple solution to this issue and it is based primarily on organization, refining notes and prioritizing weaknesses. This is not a unique idea but rather an approach that has to be embedded in the students preparation and once again being consistent completing this preparation.

In our faculty meeting at the end of the week we will touch on these ideas and reinforce throughout the course of the summer. All kids have different learning skills and test taking ability also differs with each student. We will really hone in on this topic and work for more understanding and confidence in test taking ability.

The first three week session flew by way to fast and the second three will be over before we turn around. We will be making a trek to the Lake of the Ozarks tomorrow; plans call for us to leave around 1:30 in the afternoon and arrive close to supper time after we make a stop for a bathroom break and snacks.

I love this trip as we will have more fun than is legal. I can't wait to get on the river and the float trip. My canoe partner is the world famous Tombstone and he has some definite plans on how the Pirates of the River will conduct business. Fire Dog is back for the second three weeks and last year he was the star of the river trip; I will be anxious to see what is on his plate this time around.

Cell phone connectivity at our camp site is at best not good; if you get in just the right spot you can make connection. Don't hesitate to call me if you need but it may take some time before I can get back to you. Once again my cell number is 660-232-1109. LTC Desens will also be on the trip and his number is 660-232-4436. There is an office on location and that number is 573-346-5640.

We have had a number of our kids receive rank promotions this past week; it is fun to watch the difference in being in line and taking instruction to being the person giving the instruction. We are a living leadership laboratory.

It was tough saying goodbye to some of the first 3 week campers; they were really neat kids. So to my new found friends have a good summer and keep in touch with the old coach. Hope to see you again-Bulldog (I will heal your bad ankle), Crouton (work on those abdominal muscles for a good stomach punch), Man Child (quit growing so fast, if you ever catch up to those feet you will be 10 foot tall), J-Putt (who is going to harass me in the mornings?), Cool Papa (What a great nick name), Candy Man and Rock Steady the best Oakies ever), Big Time (good luck in your new home) and Big Country ( be in shape for football).

The second three week campers are off to a great start and they also have nicknames. Stephan Baldwin (Song Bird), Troy Blasé. Fire Dog), Brittany Bledsoe (Prissy), Andrew Breault (Knucklehead), Grant Cunningham (Fonzi), Brent Debo (Razorback), Carson Finet (Twin), Zack Garber (Nebraska), Andrew King (Friend), Mallory Le Blanc (Little Sister), Diamond Madrid (Jewel), Collin Sharp (Cutter), Lucas Wendle (Half Pint), Sam Barrett (Little Smoke), Evan Milligan (Gilligan).

We will return from the lake trip water logged, a little sunburned and with big grins on our faces. Talk to you soon.

Coach

Rumor has it the kids are ganging up on me for the canoe trip; I will have to be very creative to escape their plot. (:

Hi folks,

Week 2 of Camp Lead has been hot, humid and rainy all at the same time. Not only has the weather been hot but so are the academics and activities. This group of kids is really doing a wonderful job in the classroom and is having a really good time with their afternoon events.

Everyone is now very familiar with the routine so we are beginning to note those who need more attention to detail in the classroom, better organizational skills etc. Our program for tracking homework has been very successful in the regular school year and we use that same trackig method during Camp Lead. We are finding with just a few exceptions that we are turning in all our work and utilizing our study time at night. We also have an adjustment period to know just how much work to assign and the necessary follow through with each student.

I have had a few of you call and say that you have not received email from your respective child.s teacher; I think we have resolved spam and other cyber space oddities but should you need give me a call and I will get your teacher on the phone with you.

I must apologize to you; in my correspondence to you last week I had a few mistakes in spelling. I guess spell check does not fix everything.

The pace of school and activities is really picking up now so watch the Web carefully for updated pictures of your child; I am sure you will see some great activity and lots of smiles. The 4th of July picnic is always a lot of fun and a time to meet other parents and the bonus of a great time with your kids. Do a little dieting before you come; there is more food than you can eat (I think our kids may prove that wrong because I have seen them in action).

I think all of you have heard that I assign a nickname to all of the kids; some of you may know the chosen name but if not here we go.

Michael Aaronson-Sleepy (guess how he got his name?)
Romarico Arroyo-Bumper
Matt Ashmore-Big Stick
Braxton Back-Walking Boss
Spencer Barr-Spinner
Mackenzie Barnett-Pumpkin
Jorge Barnichta-Eats-a-Lot
Alex Baylie-Buller
Blake Bennett-Cool Hand Luke
Brady Brooks-Showboat
Alahondro Brander-Bulldog
Nick Briant-Little Big Man
Carlos Cordero-Pogo
Charles Cornett-Tiger (as in LSU Tigers)
Richard Costello-Cat Daddy
Vandrea Davis-Goalie
Aiden Drybread-Crouton
Fabricio Echeveria-Froggy
Caleb Foster-Wrestler
Bobby Gay-Bobby Wonderful
Jordan Grammer-Grammy
Kainen Haney-H C
Phillip Jabara-Big Little Bit (last year he was little bit but he grew a foot over the year so he is now big little bit)
Tamara Jane-Cutie
Brice King-Sky King
Rick Kessel-Mowhawk (you should have seen his haircut on arriving to campus)
Charles Kuehnl-Charlie Tuna
Geoff Kuhn-Piece of Cake
Shelby Larson-G
Triston Liddy-Twig
Lydia Luanj-Puddin
Jacob Lull-Hockey Boy
Tyler Lynch-Big Country
Richie Mancini-Man Child
Tyler Minor-Shocker
Taylor Nolen-Oakie
Joshua Partridge-J Putt
Hayden Pearcy-Red Eye
Cole Pefanis-Cool Papa
Deigo Pelfini-Zorro
Angelique Phelan-Peanut
Jay Puckett-Sprocket
Albert Rabadan-BoBo
Jon Ratliff-Wammer
Austin Reed-A Speed
Nick Romjue-Jue Jue Bee
Julio Rosales-Mole Man
Carlos Sanchez-Sunny Boy
Jacob Schuster-Superman 1
Shania Schuster-Superwoman
Matthew Schuster-Superman 2
Steele Sensintaffer-Candy Man
Stone Sensintaffer-Rock Steady
Chandler Sharp-Smoothie
Flori Smith-Soccer Girl
Carter Smith-Gunner
James Strohmeier-Itty Bit
Dylan Stull-Big Horse
Cole Thompson-T-Rex
Nakita Thornton-Kitten
Amber Tiller-Talks-a-lot
Wyatt Tschauner-Tombstone
Nicholas Vanatta-Nick the Kick
Brandon Waddy-Big Time
Dirk Wright-Traveler
Young Yoon-Pokey Man
Samantha Zavala-Frenchy
Stephen Nigro-Nightmare

We will have a pop quiz over these nicknames next week so take advantage of your study time.

Have a good week; I know we will.

Every day is like Christmas!!!!

Coach

660-232-1109

Hi Folks,

We are now in day two of Camp Lead and we are doing quite well. Typically we have a few who are a tad bit homesick but that will go away quickly as the pace of school increases.

We did not have homework the first day of school as we were still in the process of filling out forms and getting adjusted to the rigors getting out of bed and getting our rooms ready for inspection.

First reports from the faculty have been outstanding on the kids in their classes. The Arduino class is really in high gear; I think the kids were pleasantly surprised at the depth of the content and how much technical freedom they will have in developing their project. I did have a little gift from one of the students in the Arduino class. Michael (Sleepy) Aranson built a little device that sounded off every 20 minutes. I thought my cell phone was on the blink but to my dismay it was an early project from the class and I might add very inventive and quite annoying.

The marine biology kids certainly had their eyes opened yesterday, Dr. Thurman is incredibly bright and he filled their heads with a ton of information. They will be in the pool for the first time tomorrow beginning their scuba training.

We have had intermittent rain for two days and then some sunshine late in the day; needless to say the humidity is quite high and very sticky. I know the one thing about Missouri weather is if you don't like the weather today just wait until tomorrow because it is sure to change. The forecast for the rest of the week is no more rain and plenty of heat. I think we are all ready for some good weather. I had gone as far as looking on the internet on instructions on how to build an arc just in case the rains continued.

CQ's will begin tonight for study time. I will personally conduct this study session; it will be interesting to follow our progress and see how well we follow instructions on completing work and the quality of that work. We have a very strong plan in place that has been very successful in tracking our students. progress and accountability. I think it may be a bit of culture shock for some because we carry a book with every assignment for every class so it is very hard for the .dog to eat my homework. (:

I will be sending you a weekly update on our activities and progress and the teachers will do so as well. The first week will be a little generic as we will only have had a few days of instruction but will be more detailed as we progress with their coursework.

We will begin free time activities tonight after 2nd CQ's; this too will help work off some excess energy. I can't wait to get some of these guys in the weight room with me. I know there will be some serious guitar strumming tonight and I suspect lots of cookies and pizza too.

Let me know if I can help you in any way; I tell the kids that sleep is overrated so don't worry about waking me up.

Coach

660-232-1109

Hi folks,

We are just a short time now from the beginning of a fantastic adventure at Wentworth with the beginning of Camp Lead. The summer will be filled with some very rigorous academics and activities that are not only fun but also very challenging.

Our focus will be on accountability and developing study skills that will help us build toward the future. We will work with your students on study skills; more specifically organizational skills, prioritizing and completing a given task in a timely manner and at a high level of competence. It is not unusual for us to hand work back to a student to upgrade the quality of work. We are focused on producing work at a high level: for some this may be strange but it does not take long to understand the expectations of our academic rigor.

One of the beauties of our academic approach is the constant supervision and checking of accountability of the students work; history has proven that our students will rise to the level of expectation and many times exceed this level when they understand how easy is really is to be successful by following some very guided concepts.

I think you will find the level of commitment from our faculty to be extraordinary; we are experienced in working with students with plenty of academic ability but for whatever reason have not performed at an acceptable level. This is a high energy environment with plenty of positive encouragement and instant feedback on quizzes and tests. We take our academics seriously but also understand that learning must be fun and innovative; our track record of assisting kids in the entire academic environment is unequaled.

The secret to your child's success will be two fold; one your students work ethic and we will work diligently on this component and secondly our communication with you the parent. For many the level of expectation will be a new experience, we will work our way through this dilemma with our emphasis on the tenets we discussed earlier and secondly the phone calls and e-mails from myself and our faculty to you. We do not have all the answers and will rely on you when we think we need more insight into the various academic behaviors that will surface.

The activities that our kids enjoy in the afternoon cover the entire gamut of summer fun; it is critical that we encompass hard work with play and leadership opportunities.

Study time at night is required of all our students. We will have a member of the faculty nightly with your students checking for comprehension and completion. The faculty member on duty each night will have a book with every assignment and work sheet for all our students; once again emphasizing accountability.

I will be sending you an email once per week with updates on our academics and activities; the faculty will do the same and be much more specific as to your child's progress in their class. I have my cell number posted at the bottom of each email so you can call anytime with a question or a concern and I will do my best to help you.

After the first week I should have nicknames for everyone and I will include the list of nicknames in my first email to you.

I am excited to get started and making a difference in your child's life; hope to see all of you during the course of the summer.

Everyday is like Christmas!!

Coach

660-232-1109