Upperclassmen to Help Freshmen Transition

Eighth-graders entering in September should feel right at home with the implementation of a new program announced at Monday night's Board of Education meeting at the .

High school Vice Principal David Pierson said the Freshman In Transition program would help incoming pupils acclimate to the school.

"We're hoping that it kind of changes the atmosphere of the school environment," he said. "We're improving it. It's been very good, but I think right now is a good time to implement a lot of stability there. We're looking to get the upperclassmen as leaders."

So far, 113 upperclassmen and 156 eighth-graders have signed up for FIT, which will break the students into groups to be overseen by high school staff members. A program of this nature has been absent from the district for the last few years, though Principal Emil Binotto and Pierson had discussed bringing it back for the last year and half, Pierson said.

"We're going to welcome the kids to the high school and just transition them up and make a better experience for them," the vice principal said.

Pierson said the program would mirror ones used by universities to get freshman acquainted with their surroundings.

"These kids are going to be talking to them in the summer, getting involved with them," he said. "It's going to be a big-sister, little-brother kind of thing where they're going be around to answer questions."

Pierson said he was encouraged by the students' response to the program.

"For them to say they're ready to put all that time in, it's a very nice feeling to see that happen," he said.

The program comes at at time of transition for Hopatcong High School itself as . Emil Binotto will move to the in the fall as two other prinicpals take new elementary school assignments.