Published: August 27, 2008 01:41 am            

EDUCATION: School orientations say, 'Welcome, freshmen!'

Local high schools have made a first impression with incoming freshmen, new students and their parents, as kids got a look into what life will be like for the next four years.

Four high schools, Barker, Newfane, Lockport and Starpoint, held their freshmen and new student orientations Tuesday. Royalton-Hartland High School held its orientation Aug. 12, and Wilson High School doesn’t have a formal orientation. Students learn what’s expected of them, and find out about extracurricular activities, as well as information for parents about what they can expect, too.

“A lot of parents tell me they enjoyed it,” Barker Principal John Hoar said. “We’re adding more every year. We take suggestions.”

Barker held its orientation Thursday for about 80 incoming freshmen. Hoar said it was the fifth year the school has held an orientation for students and their parents. It includes a tour of the school, a tryout of the lockers and information about courses available in the technology and art fields. Students are also introduced to club advisers and a number of extracurriculars. One of the biggest themes Hoar said he pushes with students is getting involved.

Getting involved also was the message Newfane High School Principal Steven Burley wanted to get across to the 153 incoming students. Since Newfane has done a freshmen and new student orientation, the turnout has been great, Burley said. About 80 percent of the students who attended Tuesday’s orientation brought at least one parent, he said.

Newfane’s orientation began with an overview of high school life, and then the students are divided into groups. Each group is led by a current Newfane student and given a tour of the school. Students are given schedules and assigned lockers, and parents are given information about graduation and Regents requirements. Both parents and students are given a guide book: the parents about what to expect; and the students, about how to be successful in high school.

Having an orientation provides certain benefits for the students, Burley said.

“I think it lessens the anxiety,” he said. “Students will be more comfortable.”

Lockport freshmen were introduced to their new school at 9 a.m. in the auditorium. Students heard a few words about what to expect about life as a Lockport student. Principal Frank Movalli said students are introduced to activities that will make their high school lives more fulfilling. Afterwards, students go into small groups and travel between classrooms, taking part in a variety of events such as a “sing-off” competition. In some of the rooms, students talked with faculty and staff.

Movalli said a spaghetti dinner is held at the school for the parents of the 333 incoming students. An orientation provides all kinds of information for students and parents, he said, including where in the school to go for certain things and how to get there.

“It eases the fear and apprehension of coming to a new building,” Movalli said. “Students have only four minutes to get around, and if they’re wandering, they could get lost. They get to know their way around.”

About 250 students will be starting high school at Starpoint High School, and got their first look at the school Thursday. Principal Gil Licata said a presentation was made by the Kids Escaping Drugs program, as well as one on how to make high school count. Licata said the turnout was great and the students’ first day of school will be a little easier when school begins next week.

“It takes away the stress level, gives them a chance to walk around,” Licata said.

Principal Kevin Shanley said Roy-Hart also had an excellent turnout for its orientation Aug. 12. Roy-Hart is expecting about 115 new students to start next week. This is the school’s second year doing this he said, and both times it has been a very good turnout.

In addition to introducing students and parents to activities and what to expect, Roy-Hart also showed them college and scholarship applications. The applications contained blank areas for extracurricular activities and community service, and students were asked how they would fill in the blanks. The goal of the orientation was to get students off to the best possible start, Shanley said.

“The focus for us is to not put off doing your best,” he said. “It starts in ninth grade. They can’t get behind. They need to pay attention to make sure they get off to a good start.”

Principal Daniel Johnson said Wilson High School didn’t have a formal orientation because most of the 121 students coming in are from the middle school, which shares the same building as the high school. So the students moving up are familiar with a lot about the school, already. Transfer students get an individual tour of the school.

Johnson meets with freshmen classes during the first week. There is an orientation for students beginning middle school. Johnson added that the Wilson faculty tries to make a connection with the students.

“We know their names before they walk in the door,” he said. “We want to make them feel there’s someone they can come to.”

Contact reporter Joe Olenick at 439-9222, ext. 6241.

        

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