SMA Raiders

Prep Middle School Practice Schedule:

Tuesdays & Thursdays

3:45pm - 5:45pm

Parent Pick-Up @ 5:45pm

26 January – ADVENTURE RAIDER SEASON! (SMA) This year is even better than last year! Practice is from 2:30-4:30PM Monday and Wednesday. Team coaches will be from SMA Raiders, and CW4 Rinehart and myself. There be a competition in late April early May. This competition will be against other schools in our area.

28 February - TreeUmph:  Kids either drive themselves, or parents drop off/pick up at TREE UMPH at 8:45 am-1:30 pm.  At 9:00 am, we will begin the mandatory training, for a start time of 10:00 am.  The course will take about 2-3+ hours to complete (depending on kids).  Parents ARE welcome to attend and take pictures, or to take part in the course with your kids!  TreeUmph is $50.00 per person.  This will be a “by reservation” only event, and payment/liability waiver will be due no later than February 20, 2025.  It includes all 5 courses, a bottle of water and gloves. Once I get everyone’s packet back, I will email everyone the “waiver” link that must be completed in order to attend. This is a “first come/first served” event, and we have the Jr. Raiders joining us.  Cadets can bring their own lunch/snacks if they want. Water / snacks will be provided. Parents are welcome to climb and will need to pay the additional $50 to climb.

13 March - MUD PIT DAY! This is a Raider tradition that dates back over a decade!  The Junior and Senior Raiders prepare the pit and the events that take place.  The bus will depart SMA Prep 1:00PM formation and head to SMA. All you have to do is show up after school in the senior parking lot, dressed for a muddy day and have fun!  You will bring your “Mud Pit” clothes with you to school that day and change after school is out.  Then bring ALL of your bags, items to the senior parking lot. Even some teachers partake in this traditional event! Once you enter the mud pit, you will not be allowed back in the main campus area (buildings/pavers/bathrooms/breezeways, etc...). So bring ALL your stuff with you and go to the bathroom prior!  Parents will pick you up in the senior parking lot. We will hose you off prior to you leaving and give you a garbage bag to “put around you” for your travel home. Expect to get MUDDY!  There will be music, water, eggs (…..., ☺) fun and of course… MUD!

27 March - 28 March - Camp Shannon Campout #1: This will be the PREP Junior Raiders first team competition of the season. This will be our first campout of the year and will be at Camp Shannon in Myakka City Florida. The bus will depart SMA 8:45 formation and proceed to SMA PREP.  SMA PREP Cadets will be release from 1^ST Period right after attendance is taken. The bus will depart at 9:45 and proceed to Camp Shannon. Cadets will do team building activities the company. The cadets will also need camping supplies (Sleeping bag, tent, bugs spray, etc.). We will also be doing some area “beautification” to “give back” a little for the generosity of the Shannon’s for allowing us to do so many events at Camp Shannon. Parents can pick up their Cadet at Camp Shannon after the Junior Raider Competition is complete and the entire property is cleaned up. DO NOT ASK TO LEAVE EARLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO DO THAT DAY. THE TEAM WILL BE RELEASED AT THE SAME TIME. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE.

10 April - RAPPELLING: The bus will depart SMA PREP at 9:45 and proceed to SMA. The bus will depart SMA at 10:30 to Booker High School. The time may change. We will be rappelling from the Booker HS Rappel tower and grill out for lunch. Plan to pick your Raider up from Booker HS Gym parking lot on Myrtle Street at approximately 2:00-2:30 pm. Don’t worry, we will be conducting “ground” and “mini tower” training prior to the17^th. Waiver required to attend. Each Raiders that complete at least 1 or more rappels will earn the coveted “Rappelling” arc for their uniform. This will be an event your Raider won’t soon forget!

24 April - 25 April - Camp Shannon Campout #2: This will be our second campout of the year and will be at Camp Shannon in Myakka City Florida. The bus will depart SMA 8:45 formation and head to SMA PREP.  SMA PREP Cadets will be release from 1^ST Period right after attendance is taken. The bus will depart at 9:45 and proceed to Camp Shannon. This will be the PREP Junior Raiders second team competition of the season. This is where we will focus on meeting requirements to obtain “Raider Ranks” and just have a good time with a campfire, etc. Cadets will do team building activities around the campground and will also work on helping the cadets to obtain Raider Ranks within the company. The cadets will also need camping supplies (Sleeping bag, tent, bugs spray, etc.). We will also be doing some area “beautification” to “give back” a little for the generosity of the Shannon’s for allowing us to do so many events at Camp Shannon. Parents can pick up their Cadet at Camp Shannon after the Junior Raider Competition is complete and the entire property is cleaned up. DO NOT ASK TO LEAVE EARLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO DO THAT DAY. THE TEAM WILL BE RELEASED AT THE SAME TIME. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE.

1 May - Raider Award Night: (Raider Team Members ONLY) 6pm at SMA High School Gym.  This is the night where every Raider, NOB’s to Senior Grey Berets will be recognized for their achievements throughout the entire year.  A class act event (organized and run completely by the Raider leadership), that you won’t want to miss as the Raiders get promoted and recognized for their achievements (individual and team) throughout the entire year.  Most importantly, it’s the LAST RAIDER EVENT OF THE SCHOOL YEAR!!!

8 May - St. Armand’s Circle “Beach Day”: (SMA HS ONLY POSSIBLE PREP) We leave SMA at the end of lunch and head to Lido Beach by bus! The bus will depart SMA Prep after first formation and proceed to SMA.  We will eat dinner at the beach at about 4:00.  From there, we will go to St. Armand’s Circle for a Raider Scavenger Hunt (prepared weeks in advance by Raider leadership).  Around 5-5:30 pm, we head back to SMA to watch the Turning Greys perform their traditional skit, then everyone gets picked up around 6:30-7:00PM.