Few experiences created more anxiety for young teenagers than the first day of high school. So long ago staff from District 218 chose to create a warm, welcoming, and friendly opening event – Freshman Day – for new students.
In addition to smiling teachers and administrators, freshmen at Shepard High School encountered returning students who encouraged them to get involved. An activities and athletics fair, staffed with coaches and returning students, offered freshmen a huge menu of teams and organizations devoted to academic exploration, community service, and leadership opportunities.
The day also featured the distribution of iPads, which freshmen keep as long as they’re enrolled. They completed an abbreviated version of their academic schedules, learned to work their lockers, ate lunch together, and competed in a scavenger hunt to learn the layout of their new school.
On Monday the agenda included an activities and athletics fair, learning to work lockers, completing an abbreviated academic schedule, and a scavenger hunt.
Using an app titled Goose Chase, students took selfies at various places around the school. Each completed task earned students points.
