Getting Over Those First Day Jitters

As the first day of school inches near, students are surely growing anxious about having to hit the books again.

For those about to head up to the high school, or for the fifth-graders transitioning to sixth grade, the new school year brings a new set of challenges and responsibilities. Freshmen have to learn a bigger building, take on harder classes and get used to a bigger peer group. Sixth-graders have to adjust to switching classes for the first time.

But for those students who spent the past few weeks participating in special orientations at Rogers High and Thompson Middle, the move up will come just a little bit easier.

This is the second year that Rogers, in conjunction with the Newport Community School, has sponsored Rogers 101, a special one-week program that acclimates incoming freshmen to the rules and ways of high school. It's also the first year that the Community School has sponsored "Moving on Up" at Thompson, an orientation for rising sixth-graders.

"It helps them adjust to the switching of classes," Newport Community School's Chris Lewia said of the Thompson program. "There's a math and literacy component, they talk to the guidance counselors—it eases the angst and a lot of the tension they have."

The program at Thompson included four days of orientation and a field trip on the fifth day. Rogers 101 was a full five days of instruction, offered in two sessions, and involved students rotating among four different classes throughout the week: reading, writing, math and leadership. According to Rogers English teacher Patrick Largy, who helped oversee the program, each class aimed to expose the freshmen to what sort of critical thinking skills they'll need in their first year of high school.

"What this does is make sure they're familiar with the high school," Largy said. "They become more familiar with what's expected, and they get to know one another."

On Wednesday morning of this week, a group of five boys gathered in Largy's classroom for a special lesson on overcoming their fears.

"I used to be extremely shy, but now I'm more outgoing," a teen named Remy wrote on the classroom smartboard.

"How many of you used to be shy?" Largy asked the others. Several hands shot up in the room.

 "This is a real confidence booster," said teacher's aide, Nancy Coyne, who was following the group around from class to class. "I don't think they're going to be as anxious next week."

Largy noted that Rogers 101 gives the students a chance to air a lot of their questions and concerns about high school in the comfort of a small group.

"I think it's really important for success if you can get the kids in here in a much small environment," he said. "We wanted our ninth-graders to feel on day one like they belong."

The orientation program isn't required of students, but those who do participate earn a half-credit for their time. Rogers has 110 incoming freshmen this year and 59 participated in Rogers 101.

"A lot of orientations are one day or half a day," Largy said. "The week allows us to find something out about them, so when we see them the first week, we can help connect them to someone else, or help them find a club. It's really important to get these kids involved."

For Sean King, an incoming freshman who comes from a military family, getting this early start at Rogers is a welcome change from other experiences he's had in the past.

"It's really good to get to meet people like this," he said. "I've gone to places the day before school started before. Going in the first day and not knowing anybody, it sucked."

"More than anything, this familiarizes them with some of the faces in the building," added Largy. "When they come in that first day and already know where to go and who's there, they can start to focus on the academics."