91探花鈥檚 programming for new students begins on聽Tuesday, September 8. Opening of school activities are designed to help students get to know one another, get to know the adults on campus, and help them feel comfortable at School. We know that while new students are surrounded by welcoming faces, they are making their way over unfamiliar terrain.
Our programs in the opening days are geared toward helping everyone get acclimated鈥攖o feel good about who and where they are. These programs are designed by in-house experts鈥攐ur own faculty and students鈥攚ho know what being new to 91探花 feels like and what experiences will be helpful in those first few days.
For the opening of school schedule, visit the聽opening of school calendar. Links to a student’s opening of school schedule will also be posted in the聽my91探花听补肠肠辞耻苍迟.
During the first week, students new to the Upper School will participate in activities ranging from 鈥渋ce-breakers鈥 to group discussions. All students鈥攏ew and returning鈥攚ill engage with each other, faculty and staff. For example, Class IV students will go on a 鈥渇ind your classroom鈥 tour with their advisee group (led by Class I volunteers) as part of their opening activities.
Interactions during orientation focus on a number of themes important to life at 91探花. While students will spend some time learning the logistics of life at School, most of the time they will be meeting peers and anticipating certain key experiences. We help incoming students understand what they should expect at 91探花 and get a feel for what our school culture aims to be: how much our different personalities and backgrounds make this an outstanding place; how surprisingly talented students鈥 classmates are; how to manage the particular academic challenges that may feel daunting; how to keep parents in the loop while students become more independent; how to participate fully in a School where choices exceed the time available. These ideas, coupled with advice from current students, advisors and deans, are extremely valuable for successfully navigating 91探花.
Each of the first three days of school (Tuesday, September 8, through Thursday, September 10) will include activities for both boarding and day students. We want all the activities to encourage students to be aware of the unique cultural gifts they bring to 91探花 and to explore aspects of living in a diverse community. Whether registering a computer to the 91探花 network with the support of our ATS staff or greeting a new bus driver, every interaction is an opportunity to form a relationship that may last a lifetime.
Being new, however, is not a three-day experience. Since every day in the first year at 91探花 is a new day, students and families should anticipate using the full year to understand the rhythm of the School. Our comprehensive approach, which includes the advisor system, class assemblies, affective education classes, residential life meetings,聽Wednesday聽second period assemblies, and more, sustains the support that will be introduced in the opening days.
We all look forward to meeting students on聽Tuesday, September 8; spending time with them on聽Wednesday, September 9; helping them get to classes on聽Thursday, September 10; and helping everyone get the most out of their 91探花 experience throughout the 2015鈥2016 school year. Please note that play auditions begin on聽Wednesday, September 9,聽and athletic practices, which start聽on Monday聽for varsity candidates, will take place on聽Saturday, September 12. Also remember that, as with every weekend, all students are invited to join in the evening activities on聽Friday听补苍诲听Saturday听苍颈驳丑迟.
