Grade 9 orientation took to the road today for Wallaceburg District Secondary School.
‘Tartan Tour’ was held at the park and pavilion at Mitchell’s Bay today to help the new WDSS students get to know each other.
“It’s designed to help ease the transition into high school for all of our Grade 9’s,” said Nancy Schinkelshoek, a teacher at WDSS and a coordinator for Tartan Tour. “It’s a big adjustment for them coming into Grade 9. We want them to know that they are welcomed to the school and that everyone has a place as a Tartan.”
Schinkelshoek added: “We have activities designed to allow them to get to know each other, some key involved senior leaders, and some amazing staff. It gets them engaged with school, because students that are engaged in school, stay in school.”
Alyssa Bachus, a student volunteer, said it is a fun day.
“It helps everyone to meet each other, you get placed in random groups, so you don’t even know half the people to start,” she said. “You play all of these activities. It’s awesome. Usually at the end of the everyone has met so many new people.
Bachus added: “The day starts off and everyone is quiet, they don’t want to talk, they don’t want to embarrass themselves, but as you go on you slowly get to see everyone’s personalities come out.”
Here are some photos of the activities from today:
