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‘Friendly faces on day one’

Alpena High welcomes incoming freshmen with orientation

News Photo by Julie Goldberg Romeo Bourdage, E-House assistant principal at Alpena High School, talks to freshmen about 2019-20 class schedules during orientation on Wednesdsay.

ALPENA — The 2019-20 school year starts in just a few days, and the Alpena High School Class of 2023 was introduced to the high school on Wednesday.

The incoming freshmen were welcomed by upperclassmen and high school staff. They went through their class schedule and met their teachers, which was new this year for freshmen.

Principal Tom Berriman said the freshmen had a chance to get used to what life is like at Alpena High.

“They’re able to meet their teachers and start building those relationships and they’re also meeting our ambassadors who are upper-class students who are friendly faces that they’ll have day one,” Berriman said.

Senior Karli Myers said the event helps freshmen get accustomed to the high school and the size of it, since it’s a lot bigger than Thunder Bay Junior High School. She said anything that can help the freshmen before school starts will help them feel comfortable when school does start.

“We are showing them their classes and we’re giving them a tour of the school, (and) giving them advice, since we’ve gone through that,” Myers said.

Junior Evan Carlson said they showed the freshmen how high school is different. He said they talked to them about managing time and resources and other things so they’re not freaked out when they arrive on Monday.

The students also learned about different clubs and sports. The ambassadors did a fashion show so freshmen could learn about the dress code in a fun way.

“We show them the ropes, so they aren’t completely clueless when they first get here,” Myers said. “We just try to make it as least scary as possible, because it’s a new place and a big building.”

Berriman said the high school is ready to welcome students back on Monday.

“You’re never 100% where you like to be, but everything is falling into place,” Berriman said. “When the kids show up Monday, there’ll be a teacher in every classroom and food in the cafeteria and we’ll be going.”

Julie Goldberg can be reached at 989-358-5688 or jgoldberg@thealpenanews.com. Follow her on Twitter @jkgoldberg12.

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