Day camp helps freshman acclimate to high school life at RHS

By John Underwood / john@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 8/23/17

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — From learning the lay of the land to study tips and using available technology, Robertsdale High School freshman learned the lay of the land on Thursday, Aug. 17 during …

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Day camp helps freshman acclimate to high school life at RHS

Posted

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — From learning the lay of the land to study tips and using available technology, Robertsdale High School freshman learned the lay of the land on Thursday, Aug. 17 during Freshman Day Camp at the school.

“It’s a way for them to get acclimated to high school life and learn their way around without the crush of a full student body to deal with,” said Teddy Mitchell, vice principal in charge of freshmen at RHS. “It’s also a way for them to get to know more of their fellow students so that they will begin the school year surrounded by more familiar faces.”

The first order of business during the camp, which serves as an orientation for incoming students, was a good, old-fashioned scavenger hunt, led by the RHS Student Government Association.

Students were split up into various groups, including teams of Blue, Red, Pink, Green, Maroon and Gold, and for the first 45 minutes of the day, they spent time roaming the halls, looking for various objects around the school.

After that, the different groups formed rotations, visiting classrooms to learn about various topics and activities available at RHS.

Among the topics to be covered included:

•NCAA eligibility.

•Trade school and other options, including AP classes and grants.

•Study tips, diploma types and awards.

•Discipline, attendance, school calendar, uniforms, volleyball and football schedule and bell schedules (led by RHS Principal Joe Roh.

•How to get help.

•Technology.

Students also got a lesson in “What It Means to be a Bear,” and the school’s grant-funded after school program, “Project Bear.”

The camp concluded with a pep rally, club set up and handing out Chrome Books in the school gym.

Along with the SGA, members of RHS’s award-winning Naval Junior ROTC also helped with the camp.

“I want to thank everyone who came and helped out,” Mitchell said, including freshman counselor Shirley Bell, who coordinates the project; Justin Weindorf, Bonnie Williams and Petty Officer Edward Theodoro, who helped with organization and sign in; William Peck, who manned the grill, cooking up hotdogs and sausage dogs for the group; and sophomore Sarah Shipp, a member of last year’s Freshmen Ambassador group, who also served as a volunteer for the camp.

“It’s just a good way for us to be able to show them all that Robertsdale High School has to offer,” Mitchell said.

This is the third year RHS has hosted the Freshman Day Camp.

“It’s grown every year,” Mitchell said, nearly doubling in attendance from last year’s camp to this year’s camp.

RHS has around 370 freshman enrolled for the start of the 2017-18 school year, which was set to begin on Monday, Aug. 21.