Upperclassmen pass down knowledge, welcome new Eagles to Burke Catholic Family
Goshen, N.Y. (Sept. 5, 2019) – As the onset of the 2019-2020 year jolts students everywhere into back to school mode this week, new students at Burke Catholic were eased into their new environment Wednesday morning during their annual Peer Mentor Day. Seniors, juniors and staff welcomed 107 freshmen as well as new incoming sophomores to the Eagles Nest with open wings.
Burke Catholic is unique due to its mixture of students from all over Orange County, coming from different districts and backgrounds. To transform anxiety into excitement, Burke Catholic assigns incoming students to older peer mentors who serve as a guide not only for the first week, but throughout the year along with the help of the guidance department.
Burke Catholic Principal-Operations, John Douthit, says Peer Mentor Day is meant to welcome new students to the Burke Catholic family and ease nerves as they settle in over the next couple of days.
“Upperclassmen give up their last summer day just to make it a smooth transition for the new students, which is wonderful to see”, said Douthit. “They build relationships that carry on throughout the year; it doesn’t just end today.”
During Peer Mentor Day, junior and senior Eagles guide incoming freshmen and sophomores through their new environment, providing expert knowledge, advice and comfort as they remember what it was like to wear the maroon polo worn by underclassmen. Burke Catholic Junior Chris Zacatelco described peer mentoring as a way of “giving back” as he reflected on his transition to an upperclassman.
“Putting on a blue polo this morning was so different”, said junior Chris Zacatelco. “It’s a symbol of maturing.”
New students gain comfort from the first-hand experiences of their peer mentors who were once in their shoes. Incoming freshman Angie Anthey says it’s helpful to have someone you can turn to for help with little things like schedules, as well as learn shortcuts upperclassmen learned throughout the years right off the bat.
“It’s nice to start off somewhere new already knowing someone,” said Anthey.
In a further effort to get them acclimated, Burke Catholic provides freshmen with a second day before classes officially begin when they are introduced to the various clubs and activities available at their new school in order to really integrate them into the Burke Catholic family.
To learn more about John S. Burke Catholic High School, visit www.BurkeCatholic.com
