Orientation gives freshman a head start on high school

Freshmen got a look at their new school during freshman orientation last week.

The sound reached near-deafening levels as music and cheers welcomed Mountain Home High School's incoming freshmen class as they got their first, up-close look at their new school.

Hundreds of students representing the Class of 2017 packed into Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium last Wednesday during an annual event aimed at helping these teens prepare for their first day of classes.

The freshman orientation was the brainchild of teacher Janet Waggoner, who started the program 11 years ago while she taught at schools in California. She introduced the program to the high school here in 2006.

"When these students were at the junior high school, they were at the top of the ladder," Waggoner said. But when they get to the high school, they have to deal with unfamiliar surroundings as underclassmen. For many of these incoming teens, it's a difficult adjustment.

To get these freshmen oriented, Waggoner draws help from the high school's Link club. During the day, these student volunteers paired up with their younger counterparts for tours of various classrooms while sharing their own experiences and lessons learned.

"We want to make sure their first day of school isn't so intimidating," said Waggoner, who teaches vocational business at the high school. "At the same time, the freshmen get to know each other as well as their upper classmen. This helps build our high school community."

On the first day of school today, Aug. 14, the Link members will wear their club T-shirts so freshmen can easily identify someone who can help answer questions or provide directions.

"If someone gets lost, all they have to do is look for those ready to help them," Waggoner said.