A New Start: Freshmen Get Taste of High School

Hopatcong High School's soon-to-be freshmen got a brief look at their next four years Thursday afternoon.

More than 100 students and parents filed into the high school's auditorium for freshmen orientation. Students were given class schedules, identification cards and speeches from some of the school's top administrators.

Wilson and Celeste Casado watched with their daughter, Kiara, who'll be a freshman when school begins Sept. 7. Celeste enjoyed the presentation.

"I thought it was very informative," she said, adding she particularly liked hearing about the school's credit policy. Students must complete 30 credits a marking period to be eligible for the upcoming sports season.

Principal Emil Binotto kicked off the presentation, followed by Director of Guidance Gina Cinotti, Assistant Principal David Pierson and Athletic Director Tom Vara.

Cinotti said there would be 159 students in the 2010-2011 freshmen class. Special education teacher Kathy LaRosa was announced as the freshmen class advisor, which helps coordinate fundraising.

Binotto delivered his main message early.

"Do your best," he said. "As of today, right now, you are building a resume. And this resume will get you into college, it will get you into the world of work. Prospective employers or college admissions officers will look at your record here.

"You have a four-year journey here. A very, very long four-year journey, and you have to start it off right."

Each speaker focused on his or her specialty, with Cinotti trying to comfort students with scheduling conflicts or disagreements, Vara detailing the school's athletic policy and Pierson focusing on discipline, causing Vara to joke to the audience, "That Mr. Pierson, he can be very depressing, can't he?

Pierson's points were poignant, however. He explained students are allowed 20 absences a school year, but their parents and the local municipal court will be informed once a student misses 10 days. Also, he said students could cut or be 15 minutes late to a class three times before losing full credit.

Pierson also said harassment and hazing would not be tolerated.

"Kids seem to think freshmen deserved to be teased a little bit, picked on a little bit," he said. "But if that happens to you, I'll leave it up to you…But if you don't like it and you want it to stop, I don't care how small [the issue] is, I want you to tell me. It's my job to try to stop that. I don't want you to ever be humiliated in this building."

Vara closed his speech with some encouragement.

"Be positive, be upbeat, be happy to be here every day," said Vara, who added hats can't be worn on campus. "Be happy to be here every day."