Fourth-Graders to Get Big School Experience

Most kids don’t get a lot of hand holding when it comes to starting a new school, but lucky fourth-graders from Troy Hofer Elementary and Troy Heritage Trail Elementary will be given a personalized tour as they prepare to start their fifth grade career at William B. Orenic Intermediate School in Shorewood, which educates fifth- and sixth-graders.

Troy School District 30-C Community Relations Specialist Jeanne Millsap said going into fifth grade for these kids is as big a step as going into kindergarten for younger kids.

“All the fourth graders come to Orenic Intermediate School and get a nice orientation about what they should expect next year,” Millsap said. “And it’s a huge difference. They’ll be going to a much larger school. All of the district’s fifth-graders go to William B. Intermediate School.”

The district’s fourth-graders are educated in five separate, smaller schools.

“It’s a real different experience for them,” she said.

The event, which is referred to as “Step-Up Day,” will introduce the kids to the school’s principal, Larry Piatek. They will also be a given a presentation on what to expect next year. Kids from other schools have already visited over the past two weeks.

“They’ll be changing classes for the first time next year,” she said. “Now they only have one classroom. And it’s hard to figure out what to do. They have to figure out how to navigate the school and that scares them.”

One thing the kids are excited about, though, is the fact that they’ll have the ability to have gym class everyday, as well as the option to join choir or band, MIllsap said.

The tours will be led by National Honor Society students at the school. The kids have submitted questions via Google Drive and will be answered by the students.

The students will arrive at 9:15 a.m. Friday morning and leave at 10:30 a.m.