Upperclassmen share wisdom, help freshmen acclimate to new surroundings
Goshen, N.Y. (Sept. 6, 2018) – Hundreds of students flooded the halls of Burke Catholic High School Wednesday morning as the school’s annual orientation day kicked off the 2018-2019 academic year. Concern on the faces of freshmen turned into smiles and laughter as Burke Catholic’s senior Eagles swooped in to share their collective experiences and help the incoming students ease into their new environment.
Unlike many centralized school districts in Orange County, ninth graders entering Burke Catholic come from a variety of public and Catholic primary schools and districts from around the region. The new locale, different routine and faces can cause a bit of anxiety for incoming freshmen. To ease that anxiety, Burke Catholic pairs incoming students with older peer mentors who show them the ropes. Among the senior-freshmen pairings was Curtis Paul and Tommy Gilligan.
“Not many schools do this,” said Burke Catholic senior Curtis Paul. “It’s good because now new students won’t be clueless on the first day of school.”
Burke Catholic Principal-Operations, John Douthit, says Burke Catholic takes pride in its family environment and he was pleased to see students in the upper grades embrace that spirit and pass it on.
“The seniors volunteered their time on a day they would otherwise not be in school to help mentor all of our new freshmen into the Eagle’s Nest, which was wonderful to see,” said Douthit.
“Our Freshman Orientation Day is a wonderful time for us to welcome all of our new students in the Burke Catholic Family,” said Burke Catholic Principal-Academics, Janice Clark.
“Freshmen orientation does wonders for teachers, students and the community as a whole,” said English teacher Shelly Rivieccio. “It sets the tone for the year and creates a sense of family.”
More than one new student in the halls of Burke Catholic at orientation could be heard saying, “I can’t open my locker,” followed by the response, “don’t worry, let me show you,” from a senior nearby.
“It’s that kind of camaraderie and goodwill that extends beyond freshmen orientation at Burke Catholic, where upperclassmen are always around to help new students in need,” said Douthit.
In a further effort to get them acclimated, freshman only attended a full day of school at Burke Catholic on Thursday. All students will be welcomed back on Friday, September 7.
To learn more about John S. Burke Catholic High School, visit www.BurkeCatholic.com
