How important is freshman orientation?

[Joan1]

My DS will be starting high school in September 08

I never thought about that when we booked the 15nt Panama Canal for Aug08 because they don't start school until after Labor Day and thought, ok Sept 1 will work with not missing the beginning of school. It dawned on me today that he will have freshman orientation the week before school starts

For those of you with children in high school how important was the orientation
Just wondering if we would be ok missing it

 

[mustachspot]

I don't have any teenagers, but I do have a 10 year old that has a hard time adjusting to new environments. When he started 5th grade, it was at a new school, I called the principal and asked if we could come up by ourselves. This worked out great, he got a feel for the lay out and a one on one tour with his new teacher.

I would check and see if you could do this.

I hope it helps.

 

[Joan1]

Thanks for the suggestion
The only problem is that the school doesn't open up again unti 3rd week of August and we will be on the cruise. He is very good about adjusting to new environments and will also have a lot of other kids that he knows in the school, in all grades, so it won't be like going to a brand new school in a new town

I just don't know what exactly goes on during orientation for high schools and whether it is important that he attend

 

[LCTsMom]

When does school get out? Maybe you can pull him out of school one morning and take him this year. Then at least he'll be familiar with the layout of the school.

I don't think DS's high school had an orientation. They had a week long camp type thing but he didn't want to go. DS14 starts this fall but is already familiar with the school so he's in a different situation.

 

[mustachspot]

If it's anything like our High School, they tell them about switching classes, bell times, lunch times, how to read their schedule, etc. If he has other friends attending orientation, they could email him how it went.

I am sure the school will have a packet of some sort explaing the orientation process, maybe he could pick one up and read through before he returns to school.

 

[DMMarla07860]

for my old school's freshman orientation, we just got a tour of the school to see where classrooms where and meet new people. I think as long as he knows the way around the school before he starts nothing is a problem. you could see if you could go to the school one day so he would know his way around. And not everyone goes to freshman orientation well at least not the the high school near me.

 

[Ourtwoprincesses]

When I went to highschool, they just threw us in with the sharks! It all worked out fine for me. We got our schedules during the summer. If he is doing or is interested in any sports, he might want to talk to the school about that as some sports start tryouts and practice during the summer.

Sue

 

[KarenMom]

If you son will be involved in band or any fall sports, you might want to check on when practices start. My son plays tennis and is in band and they start practicing several weeks before school starts.

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

My DS missed orientation day because we were on vacation. No problem-he is fine. Our school is pretty big, so we went and got a map and his schedule the day before school started. He said he really didn't even need to do that because the first day is a LOT of orientation.
You can call the school and explain your situation, and ask for suggestions. You can't be the only family who will have a child miss orientation. (We found out that we weren't.) The school probably has a plan.
Have a great time on your vacation!

 

[Ub_Iwerks]

I work at a high school. Freshman Orientation is nice, but it's not crucial. Definitely contact the school before this school year ends to make arrangements. They may be able to arrange a nice upperclassman to show him around. Most high school offices remain open a few weeks after school lets out in the spring. Also get all the paperwork, etc. When you return from your cruise, take him up to school to refresh his memory, even if you can only do so on a Saturday (school's open for sports practices). If he doesn't get his schedule by the time school starts, get to school extra early on the first day.

 

[Aisling]

I agree that freshman orientation generally isn't crucial. My son is a freshman in h.s., and his orientation was just about bell schedules, to introduce the principal and other school personel, and school rules. If my son missed it, it would have been no big deal, as he could have gotten all this information from classmates or teachers after school started.

If I were you, I would enjoy the cruise, and not give orientation another thought!

 

[LCTsMom]

When does school get out? Maybe you can pull him out of school one morning and take him this year. Then at least he'll be familiar with the layout of the school.

I don't think DS's high school had an orientation. They had a week long camp type thing but he didn't want to go. DS14 starts this fall but is already familiar with the school so he's in a different situation.

DS just got home and reminded me that he did have an orientation.

He agrees with the others who said it was basically an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the layout of the school.

In our district, there is someone working in the schools all summer long. If you find out that's the case, maybe you could call and arrange something on your own.

Either way, as others have said, enjoy your cruise!

 

[tvguy]

Well, he likely will survive, but it's not a good idea. But of course it depends on how the school is set up and on the child.
We didn't have a choice with out kids, orientation is mandatory. It was important for our kids because they stayed in the same class all day at their Junior High School, so it was their first exposure to having to change classes.
They also took all their placement tests for math, english and science that day so they got placed in the correct level of each class.
It was also an important social event. We dropped them off at 8 am, and didn't pick them up until 8 am the next morning. After a day full of academic stuff, they had a big BBQ dinner, then locked them in the gym for an "all nighter" sleepover/party/dance. All the clubs had booths set up, they had a DJ, a bounce house, a magician, 2 am pizza delivery, and breakfast in the morning.

 

[disneylover5]

We will be on the EB Panama with you!! I have two daughters. One will be missing the orientation to middle school and one will be missing the orientation to high school....no brainer for me.....we are going though the Panama canal.

We go to everything they have to offer at the High School now, to try and get her ready. Plays, concerts, and summer camps at the school. This summer she will do acting camp and basketball camp. Do they have anything like that at your school.

We go to the largest HS in the state of VA......4000 kids......I am sure she will not be the only one getting lost the first day of school!!

 

[Joan1]

TVGUY Well, he likely will survive, but it's not a good idea. But of course it depends on how the school is set up and on the child.
We didn't have a choice with out kids, orientation is mandatory. It was important for our kids because they stayed in the same class all day at their Junior High School, so it was their first exposure to having to change classes.
They also took all their placement tests for math, english and science that day so they got placed in the correct level of each class.
It was also an important social event. We dropped them off at 8 am, and didn't pick them up until 8 am the next morning. After a day full of academic stuff, they had a big BBQ dinner, then locked them in the gym for an "all nighter" sleepover/party/dance. All the clubs had booths set up, they had a DJ, a bounce house, a magician, 2 am pizza delivery, and breakfast in the morning.

Ours is nowhere like that at all - It is just a couple of hours and one parent has to be there. He is changing classes now in middle school so it won't be a problem with that, just getting to know their way around

We go to everything they have to offer at the High School now, to try and get her ready. Plays, concerts, and summer camps at the school. This summer she will do acting camp and basketball camp. Do they have anything like that at your school.

I will definitely ask the school if he can go in next year for a day to get an idea of the information. Good idea about the plays and such. We did go there for a play for my younger son that they held in the high school

If you son will be involved in band or any fall sports, you might want to check on when practices start. My son plays tennis and is in band and they start practicing several weeks before school starts.

We won't know for until next year if he will be playing sports he is in 7th grade now and enjoys basketball but who knows if he will stick with it

When I went to highschool, they just threw us in with the sharks! It all worked out fine for me. We got our schedules during the summer. If he is doing or is interested in any sports, he might want to talk to the school about that as some sports start tryouts and practice during the summer.

Sue

Yep us too and we survived

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and support

 

[disneydance]

u have just just reminded me my dd will be starting high school that year yikes and she only 13 but ds started high school this year and prent were invited to oreintation to and at the hgigh school my son goes to oreentation was just a joke it like the the first day of middle school get your scedules get your locker and get a tour of the school and many kids skip it i would not cancel the cruise so ur son can get his locker early and get a tour of the school and get his scedule because of a cruise is alot more fun than oreintation

 

[DVC Mary]

As a h.s. teacher I think you know your child's needs best & w/ info from the school, not us, you can make your best decision. Most of our students get their schedule at registration & walk their schedule, learn how to work their lockers, etc. before orientation. There are kids who start school a few days late w/o any problem.

Good luck! Just talk to the school.

 

[kaseyC]

Check with your school and see if they offer "New Student Orientations". I know some schools offer these a few times a year as well as in the summer for students transferring from other schools and/or just moving into the district. At the High Schools I taught at years ago before becoming a SAHM, upperclassmen or Student Govt. members would conduct the tours.

 

[geffric]

I have a son that is starting high school in 2007. he is going to summer school to tale world history so he can have an easier schedule during the school year. Also will give him experience with the school layout, etc. He also has several sport camps this summer to. Football, cross country and band do start a month earlier than school.

 

[branv]

We must have had one strange school - orientation was when we picked signed up for our electives and changed our schedules if we wanted to take a different teacher then the one we were assigned to for our standard classes. As long as we got there first of course (just like college ). Those who missed orientation were assigned to whatever teacher and electives were left. With three classes of electives, it was a big deal.

Now that I think about it, they must have had one heck of a job arranging things that close to the start of school...and this was just at the beginning of computers too. I remember it was a little bit of mass chaos.