This inclusive freshman orientation is designed to help incoming students succeed from day one. Listen to Principal Lizzie Herring detail her school’s student-led orientation day from mentor groups to an energizing rally!
School Type: High school
Activity Goal: Introduce school culture
Prep Time: Three months
People Required: Staffulty, administration and student leaders
Space Required: Gym or auditorium
Materials: School spirit decorations, prizes, scavenger hunt trinkets and any necessary handouts
Timing: Back to school
Submitted By: Mayde Creek High School, Texas
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Choose a day for your freshman orientation. This could be a special freshmen-only day before the official first day of school, or another evening before the start of the year.
- Gather student leaders that represent different backgrounds of your school so your newest students immediately have someone they identify with.
- With your student leaders, choose games that can be played in both small and large groups.
- Invite recent graduates to be a part of a panel that gives advice and insight to your newest class.
- If this isn’t possible, watch this episode of of The Harbor™ by Jostens® featuring advice from Mike Smith.
- Go all out decorating your campus to boost school pride and spirit. It’s back to school — AKA the best time of the year — after all.
- Have an awesome time during a fun freshman orientation! Here is a suggested itinerary:
- Start the orientation with a large group game
- A message of welcome
- Panel of recent graduates and/or The Harbor video.
- Divide into small groups
- Have a school-wide scavenger hunt. This will help them get to know each other and your campus layout
- BONUS: If you invited parents to this orientation, have them stay to learn more about your school and anything else they need to know as their student begins high school.
- Once everyone is together again in the common space, teach your school’s cheers and chants that are used in student sections.
- BONUS: Include your pep band to teach the school fight song!
- Close with some fun and recognition in the form of a Renaissance rally!
- Release students and their parents to an Activities Fair to help them learn more about what your school has to offer and get them involved before the first day of school even begins.
Whatever your school does for freshman orientation, make the focus on building relationships and fostering a sense of school pride.
ADDITIONAL IDEAS & OPPORTUNITIES:
- Give your incoming students their first piece of school spirit wear! This could be a T-shirt, a hat, etc.
WANT ACCESS TO MORE SCHOOL CULTURE IDEAS FROM JOSTENS RENAISSANCE?
Contact us for a code or by reaching out to your Jostens rep. All Jostens customers have free access to Jostens Renaissance resources, and we’re happy to help!
If you don’t currently partner with Jostens for yearbooks or graduation regalia or other celebratory products, you can learn more here.