A Warm Welcome to Hopatcong High School

The held its second annual Eighth Grade Picnic on Thursday, June 7 at the Wayne L. Threlkeld Hilltop Fields. This was a day where students got to play games such as soccer, volleyball, and softball as well as other team games. For those not sports oriented, the kids had the opportunity to read and visit with friends. There was something for everyone at this year end celebration.

The Middle School PTO sponsored this event, and they treated the eighth graders to burgers, dogs, chips, fruit salad and drinks. Later there were cookies for dessert. The students had a great time with their peers participating in the various activities and filling up on food. However, there was more to come. High school students came up to the field, and the eighth grade students had no idea why. The high school students ate lunch and then made their presence known to the middle school students. This was unannounced, but ultimately well received.

The high school is offering the Freshmen in Transition (FIT) program for incoming freshmen.

The FIT program was developed in an effort to help freshmen become acclimated to the high school community in a variety of areas such as iacademics, athletics, and social emotional development.  It is a community-based peer leadership program that relies on upperclassmen volunteers to act as role models for the incoming freshman class.  Students will meet during school hours and after school on scheduled days in the next school year.  It also provides upperclassmen the opportunity to volunteer and to develop their leadership skills

There was an overwhelming response from upperclassmen to participate in the program.  The high school had 98 mentors re-arrange their exam schedules to participate in the FIT kick-off. The mentors were asked how they felt about the program, and most responded that it was a great way to bring freshmen into the school to help them feel like they belonged to the high school community. Others said they were glad to be part of the program and that they felt it would help them when they applied to colleges. They were right, as community service is a definite plus on college (as well as scholarship) applications.

Both the high school and the middle school plan to make this event a yearly event. This first year will be the proving ground, but all involved think that this program will do nothing but benefit all of the Hopatcong High School students.