The week before the start of school, on August 23rd, high school students at James A. Garfield High School organized a freshman-year introduction day for the incoming class of 2027. The event had been in production for many months prior, during these students’ G-men time; this is a period throughout the school day when students can participate in numerous activities or simply have a brain break. Nonetheless, teachers selected a group of about twenty students to aid in creating a day to welcome new high school students so they would feel at ease on the first day of school. Over the weeks of planning, teacher advisors collaborated with the group of mentor students to plan the event as well as some activities to partake of during the first grading period. Students suggested activities such as “How to Compose an Email” and “Appropriate Behavior for Homecoming.”
Furthermore, the mentor students decided on a date and time for the Freshman Introduction Event in which groups of incoming ninth graders would be given a tour of the high school, including their classrooms, lockers, and the lunchroom. The first-year students were also handed a folder containing a map of the school, information about clubs and sports, important school holidays, and many other vital pieces of information. The day went smoothly, and the new students left feeling prepared for this new step in their academic careers.
The Freshman Intro Event had been held at the school in the past, with games, food, and various activities spanning a few hours. However, new advisors took over the program this year, shortening the event to fifteen-minute tours. Feedback from last year prompted the change due to disorganization and an extended runtime. Additionally, the first week of school has begun for Garfield students, and the first Freshman Intro G-Men time has run remarkably well. The mentors introduced themselves, had the freshmen participate in some “icebreakers,” and presented a slideshow on different clubs and school organizations. Overall, students and teachers are ecstatic about the upcoming school year and can’t wait to have another great year at James A. Garfield.
