Incoming freshmen from surrounding middle schools arrived on campus Tuesday, April 16th for the first ever on-site orientation.
The 8th-graders arrived in the morning on school buses and were brought to the gym, where they were welcomed by Peterson and shown a video. Teachers including Mr. Zick, Mr. Wampler and Mr. Eich then introduced their departments and encouraged the future students to get involved.
“Typically, the elective teachers take turns going out to the different junior highs,” said event coordinator Mrs. Jones. “[This orientation] gave us the opportunity instead of us all having to miss class, they come to us and we coordinate from there.”
More than seven-hundred middle-schoolers participated, and were divided into groups for a tour of the school. The tours were led by Link Crew members, who have had experience guiding freshman in the annual summer orientation.
“We wanted them to have a picture of what the school looks like,” said Jones.
Many of the students were impressed by the tour.
“The school is really big,” said Jake Nguyen, an 8th-grader at Fulton. “It’s good to see first because I don’t want to get lost.”
Other students were impressed by the variety of courses offered.
Katelynn Taylor said, “I got really excited about all the things I could join when I come here next year.”
After the tour, the eighth graders were brought back to the gym and treated to a traditional pep rally.
Volunteers were invited from the crowd to play games for FVHS t-shirts. ASB member lead the crowd through a variety of cheers.
Then the advanced choir, Concert Choir, sang a piece from their latest concert, and theater performed a number from the spring musical, Little Shop of Horrors. The cheer and dance team also performed.
“The kids throughout the time were having a good time,” said Jones, who predicts an influx in enrollment next year as a result of this orientation. “So it’s a great way to show kids why this is a great school to choose from in the district versus somewhere else.”
