Orientation programs to welcome English, Classical freshmen

LYNN – Incoming freshmen are invited to get in the game early when Lynn English High School and Classical High School hold their Freshman Orientations on Aug. 28.”It really has to do with a difficult transition kids have from middle school to high school,” said LEHS Vice Principal Jennifer Mancaniello.Day one of high school can be daunting for any student, she said. Attending the orientation can alleviate some of those fears because students learn what is expected of them and where everything is.”They come into the building, they work in small classroom settings with upperclassmen,” she explained. “We have 105 upperclassmen volunteering, which means they’ve had to meet three times over the summer to get ready. It’s been great.”The event begins at 7:45 a.m. and wraps up at noon.Mancaniello students will hear what a typical day is like at LEHS, they will meet their homeroom teachers, learn about the dress code, expected behavior and even hear from an FBI agent regarding Internet safety and bullying.”The crux of the day is the scavenger hunt,” she added.Students will have to find their way around the school picking up tickets at places such as the flagpole, stage and tennis courts, and various classrooms. The tickets can then be turned in for prizes, Mancaniello said. It helps the students learn their way around the school in a fun way rather than a boring tour, she said.She expects 350 to 400 students to attend the event and said it’s important that those planning to go RSVP no later than Friday, Aug. 23. Students can contact Mancaniello at 781-477-7366 ext. 3526 or by email at [email protected]. She also noted that orientation is for students only – no parents allowed. Parents with questions, however, can call her anytime, she added.”It’s usually a very successful day,” she said. “Coming in they’ll know the dress code, know some of their classes, where the bathrooms are and make some new friends.”Classical Vice Principal Dennis Thompson said he will have a similar program running at the same time. Incoming Classical freshman will also get a tour of the school, meet upperclassmen, who will answer their questions and give them a primer on life on O’Callaghan Way. The students will also get their schedules, hear about extra curricular activities, meet fall sports coaches, get an overview of the dress and disciplinary codes, and like their English counterparts, take part in a scavenger hunt.Thompson said it’s important for students to attend because it takes away the first day jitters by giving them a peek inside the building, a chance to meet teachers and learn what’s expected of them.”So on the first day we can hit the ground running,” he said.School opens on Sept. 4 and there will be an abbreviated version of the orientation that day for students who miss the Aug. 28 event, Thompson added.”They don’t have to RSVP here,” he said. “Just show up.”