High school welcomes Class of ’21
WOONSOCKET – They had the whole high school to themselves on Wednesday and members of the Class of 2021 and their teachers made good use of that time getting to know one another.
The first day for ninth graders included a welcome by the high school’s Principal Carnell Henderson and the rest of the school administration and also a number of special programs aimed at inspir- ing them to get the most out of the next four years of high school.
But it was the lunchtime cookout in the courtyard near the cafeteria that really set the mood for their first day of high school. They got to meet new friends, share experiences from the morning and also to dance to the music of a DJ and enjoy a hamburgers and hot dogs meal prepared by the Sodexho food service staff on a large gas grill.
“It went a lot better than I expected Jeremy Gonzalez said as he took in the cook out with his friends, Kevin Silva, Carlos Rosa, and Khari Perry. The boys were surprised by the spread of food that included potato and macaroni salad, chips, carrot sticks, soft drinks and watermelon and also the number of people at the cook out.
School Superintendent Patrick McGee even stopped by to say hi to them and welcome them to their new school.
Gonzalez said he is interested in computers and wants to take a music technology class at the school so he can learn how to produce music with a computer. “I have to wait for a counselor to put me into the class,” Gonzalez said while explaining a lot of his classmates were also interested in the course.
The class was just one of the reasons he felt the school was better than what he imagined it would be like before he got there on Wednesday, he noted. “I’m looking forward to it,” Gonzalez said.
Perry said he was interested in playing football as a future career and was already signed up with the football team at the high school to pursue that goal. Being on the team would help him make the transition to a larg- er school, he noted. “It’s alright, and it’s good, but there is more confusion here,” he said.
Silva was already liking his high school experience on Wednesday and said he hoped to be able to work hard and pass all his classes. “I want to go to college and then become a Marine,” he said of his plan to also pursue military service.
Rosa said he was looking to just pass and graduate from the school. “I’m going to be a basketball player,” he noted while offering his initial goal for his future after WHS.
Standing with a group of her friends on Wednesday, Debrianna Rodriquez said she thought the freshmen day at high school was a good way to get started.
“It is a good school and I want to work hard and participate,” she said. Rodriguez’ goal is to go to college and then become a doctor, she said.
Her friend, Amina Diop, offered a similar goal. “My favorite class so far is my computer science class,” she said. And what she liked best at the school was “how cool everyone is and friendly. “I wasn’t really nervous” she added. “I’m in ROTC,” she said of another activity she signed up for at the school.
Hailey Giguere said she was getting to know where all her classes were on Wednesday and also looking for other activities to take on as well. “I’m a dancer,” she said while noting she also plans to look into joining the school’s theater and dance programs.
“I think I will like it, yes,” she said.
Henderson said the idea of a freshmen only opening was to give the new students a chance to experience the school without the distractions of the upper class members. The program does rely on some of the older students to serve as peer counselors and opening day guides and also to shepherd them through the start of school when the rest of students are back.
“It is a day for them to get acquainted with the staff and their new surroundings and hopefully just to enjoy themselves,” Henderson said.
The students also got their student handbooks and the rules of the school but Henderson said there is a lot to do in high school that can enrich a student’s life.
“Part of education is to enjoy things and as part of this process we want the students to know that is important to us too,” he said.
On Thursday, all the high school’s more than 1,500 students will be attending school and the new year will be fully under way, Henderson noted. “This is their time today and it is a rare opportunity, so I say enjoy it,” Henderson said.