New Student Orientation
As the classic theme to Rocky played, new students entered Froelicher Theatre on Monday morning, ready and eager to start the school year. All 108 freshmen plus four new sophomores and juniors attended Orientation Day to help them get acclimated to Upper School, which officially started the next day. After listening to remarks from Dr. Davis, Ms. Hill, Mrs. Skipwith, Ms. Chesley and me, all the students went off with their advisors for a day of activities. Another big part of the day involved working with the twenty-three seniors who comprise the Community Leadership Team (CLT). Not only did these senior leaders greet the new 9th graders with banners and posters, they spent a good portion of the day helping those students with information, tours and the wisdom of their experiences. Those same seniors will be working with the freshmen in advisory groups all year.
Orientation Day is certainly a crucial component to getting the year off right. Our incoming 9th graders have a chance to meet their advisors and their fellow advisees, work with leaders in the senior class, discuss everything from “where is my locker?” to “how do I read my schedule?” to how to stay organized, make sure their iPads are ready to go, and engage in some fun activities. Along the way, students get to meet and interact with some old friends and many more soon-to-be friends. Overall, the main goal is to “demystify” the beginning of high school, and at the very least help allay some of the specific the worries about logistics and knowing what to expect on Day One.
When it came time for me to address the new students, I emphasized three keys to Upper School success:
1. Do your homework! It may sound simple, and it truly is. Do the work assigned, turn it in on time. The difficulty of the work should not be overwhelming; it is calibrated appropriately for 9th graders, and there is plenty of structure for all students. In my experience the only students I see really struggle as freshmen are those who don’t complete assignments in a timely fashion or who don’t follow through on their level of responsibility. Therefore, in addition to getting work done, I encourage all students to be present and alert in their classes, participating as much they can. See teachers at help time as needed. Respond to their e-mails! Know that they want students to succeed and will help them gain confidence and independence.
2. Be authentic. We are a great school for a wide range of students and can support a vast number of “types.” We are not a factory school looking to produce one kind of student. I encourage all students to be true to themselves. Be unique and embrace who you are. Others will respond to that self-confidence. Understand yourself as a learner, too. The sooner you really know what makes you tick as a student, the better you can do. This self-reflection also means embracing your weaknesses as much as your strengths and knowing how to offset those weaknesses the best you can. We expect students to become good self-advocates, which entails knowing oneself as a person and a student.
3. Get involved! There is no reason to hold back because you are new. There are so many ways to get involved at CA—sports, arts, clubs, Mock Trial, service, the list goes on. Because we are a small school, we actually rely on students getting involved right away. There is no reason to “wait your turn” or hold back. Clubs especially need members, and they encourage participation from all grades. We want a dynamic student body that is willing to jump into things.
In short, I encourage all students new to CA's Upper School to embrace the opportunity to work hard and to seek out positive challenges. Great things await them in the months and years ahead!
On a related note, one of the main ways we emphasize and support the learning process is through our Pass/Fail trimester, which encompasses the three core courses for all 9th graders: Biology, Global Perspectives, and Coming of Age in the World (English). I have attached an explanation of this innovative practice here:
© 2023 Colorado Academy
