Freshmen Get First Taste of Millburn High School

If any Millburn High School freshmen were curious about where something was located at the school, they just needed to look at the back of a senior ambassador's shirt where they'd find a map.

Millburn High School held an open house for incoming freshmen on Thursday afternoon. Seniors in the ambassador program led the new students on tours through the school, showing them where their classes will be located and gave them advice on things like lunch. The freshmen also had the chance to open their lockers in advance of the opening of school on Tuesday.

Meanwhile upstairs their parents had a chance to learn more about the high school from the school's administrators. The talk included information about PowerSchool, the district's electronic form of grading for high school students.

Millburn High School Principal Bill Miron said there is bound to be anxiety for students as they head to back to school in a new environment on Tuesday. "Judging by the number of parents here, I'm sure you feel similar anxieties about your children," he said.

The open house was developed in response to last year's hazing incident and gives seniors a chance to interact with freshmen in a positive atmosphere, Miron said. But it also gives freshmen and their parents a chance to relieve their anxieties, he said.

He said his biggest advice to freshmen and new students is to make sure they ask questions if they are concerned or confused. Guidance counselors are available before or after school and during lunch period. Teachers also are available to answer questions such as in the case a student gets lost.

"In the first week of school they are bound to get lost," Miron said.

Teachers are aware freshmen are getting used to the school and don't know where they're going, he said. They also know students will need help finding classrooms. He recalled how a junior asked him for directions last school year, so upperclassmen also can get lost.

Miron also reviewed procedures for the first day of school. Freshmen are expected to arrive at 7:45 a.m. in their homerooms, which they saw on Thursday. They then go to their class meeting at 8 a.m. Between their meeting and classes starting at 9:37 a.m., they will have a chance to complete paperwork, get questions answered and visit their lockers.

Seniors are expected to arrive at school at 8:15 a.m. for pre-school activities including the car decorating contest and their class photo. They will have a class meeting about expectations and responsibilities at 9 a.m.