New hallway layouts to master, new teachers to meet and new classmates to learn about. Transitioning to a new school is no easy feat. In order to help with this stressful process, MCPS has implemented a county-wide non-instructional transition day on Aug. 25 for all students entering grades K, 6 and 9, along with any other new or transferring students. For years, WCHS has had a “mini-day” the week before school starts for new students to get a sneak peak of the school, but it was not until this year that a full day was installed the day before returning students start their school year.
“Transition Day [helped me] feel more comfortable the next day because I knew how to get to my classes, which was the most important thing,” WCHS freshman Charley Tibbits said. “I also got a feel of [the hallways] in between classes.”
The WCHS administration crafted a detailed schedule to ensure students were getting the most they could out of this day. Students were greeted upon arrival by the WCHS Poms Team, Jake the Bulldog mascot and band. Then, they headed into the auditorium for a warm welcome from Principal Taylor where they learned what it means to “be a Bulldog” and were grouped up to go through rotations. One rotation included a No Place for Hate presentation by WCHS Bulldog Ambassadors.
“I presented the slides in a classroom with around 30 ninth grade students,” WCHS Bulldog Ambassador Katie Campion said. “The slides aimed to inform the new students on WCHS respect policy, anti-bullying regulations and how to become an influential member of the community. The students were able to meet each other and talk about times when they showed respect in the real world.”
Other rotations included lessons about counseling resources, success in high school, navigating WCHS and an introduction to exploring interests and careers. After they got through their four presentations, students had a break for lunch where they received pizza and WCHS t-shirts. Then, they got a chance to run through their schedules.
“The most useful part of [the day] was being able to go through our classes,” Tibbits said. “It was a great way to better understand our way around the school and to get to know our teachers better. My classmates also thought that this day was a great way to ease into the school year. It released a lot of stress and helped to make them feel more prepared.”
Since WCHS is a relatively large building with thousands of students, having some friendly faces to help students navigate WCHS and ask questions was essential. Ambassadors were stationed throughout the school to ensure that each student knew where their classes were and the best routes to get to them.
“I remember being a scared ninth grader struggling to find my classes, and being nervous to talk to fellow students and teachers,” Campion said. “Now, as a senior, I am happy to help ninth graders that might be feeling the same way I did.”
Overall, the day appeared to be a successful way to break down a daunting transition into smaller, more manageable pieces. When students walked into school the next day and were thrown into crowded hallways with upperclassmen, they were able to stay calm in the chaos.
“I think that these days should occur in future years because it helped get rid of a lot of stress and anxiety I had prior to this day,” Tibbits said. “I think that this day was beneficial to all new students, as it is giving everyone a feel of what the school year is going to be like.”
