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Class of 2030 gets a Wildcat welcome during WVHS orientation

Students in purple shirts stand outside a brick building, with one holding a "Welcome Incoming Freshmen!" sign.

When incoming freshmen (and students who are new to the district) walked through the doors of Warwick Valley High School Thursday morning, they were met with cheers, applause, and handmade signs from the Wildcat Ambassadors waiting to welcome them to this year’s Freshman Orientation.

The morning gave students a chance to learn the practical parts of starting high school, from finding their classrooms and lockers to getting their schedules and Chromebooks. It also introduced them to the community they are joining and the opportunities, experiences, and traditions that will shape their next four years.

Helping make that introduction were Wildcat Ambassadors in grades 10 through 12, who spent the morning guiding small groups of freshmen through the building, answering questions and sharing what they have learned from their own high school experiences.

For Ambassador Samantha Rado, getting involved has helped her find her place at the high school.

“It helps you feel like you’re really a part of the school community,” Samantha said. “And it’s a great way to help out and give back.”

Director of Guidance Mary Fox led the opening presentation, introducing freshmen to members of the high school’s administration and guidance team and giving them an overview of what to expect during their first year.

But before getting into the details, Ms. Fox acknowledged the mix of excitement and nerves that can come with starting high school, reassuring students that they were not alone in feeling that way.

“The more prepared you are, hopefully the less nervous you’ll feel,” Ms. Fox said. “Every year I’m excited, but I still have butterflies.”

Beyond easing some of those first-day worries, orientation also encouraged freshmen to get involved. Principal Dr. Georgianna Diopoulos pointed to the many opportunities available to students as they begin shaping their own high school experience.

“You are going to very quickly learn that the high school is a great place to be,” Dr. Diopoulos said. “And high school is what you make of it.”

Freshmen learned about opportunities to run for class office. They were encouraged to explore the high school’s clubs, athletics, and other activities as they begin figuring out where their interests lie.

Homecoming will offer one of their first chances to jump in. Set for Sept. 26, the annual tradition brings the school and wider Warwick Valley community together for the class float competition, parade, football game and school dance.

Students also got an early reveal of this year’s theme: DreamWorks movies. With the seniors already claiming “Madagascar,” freshmen were encouraged to start brainstorming their own take on the DreamWorks theme.

“Homecoming is something that is not just in our building. It is a community event,” Ms. Fox said. “The community looks forward to it every single year.”

After the opening presentation, freshmen broke into small groups with their Wildcat Ambassadors to get better acquainted with the school. Throughout the morning, students received their schedules, found their lockers, met their counselors, took part in icebreakers and toured important areas of the high school.

Many ambassadors also took extra time to walk freshmen through their individual schedules, showing them where each class will be when they return for the first day of school.

Ambassador Mackenzie Sciarra offered one final piece of advice for anyone still feeling a little unsure about the transition.

“Take a deep breath,” Mackenzie said. “If you need help, there’s always someone you can ask.”

Freshman Orientation not only helped ease first-day nerves, but also marked the first of many high school traditions the Class of 2030 will share over the next four years.

In the foreground, a young woman in a purple shirt gestures while speaking to a teenage boy, while in the background, other young people in purple shirts stand near a doorway.
Teenagers in a school hallway stand in line behind two adults at a table, with posters and an American flag visible in the background.
A man with a microphone and a woman holding a cup stand on a stage in front of a projection screen, with the backs of audience members in the foreground.
In the foreground, two girls in purple shirts are at a table, while in the background, a group of teenagers stand near doorways and a bulletin board.
In the foreground, students in purple shirts are seated at tables, while in the background, a crowd of teenagers mills about in a brightly lit hallway.
A young man in a blue t-shirt and grey shorts receives a paper from a woman in a purple shirt at a table, with other people and a bulletin board visible in the background.
A group of young boys walk down a school hallway, with lockers visible in the background.
A group of teenagers in purple shirts stand outside a building, with one boy in the foreground clapping and smiling.
Two girls hold a %22Welcome the Wildcats%22 sign in front of a brick building, with a red car visible in the background.
A group of students walks down a school hallway with lockers lining the right side.
Students in purple shirts stand outside a brick building, with one holding a %22Welcome Incoming Freshmen!%22 sign.
A young boy in a gray t-shirt smiles while holding a phone in his hand, with a red car and trees in the blurred background.
Teenagers in purple shirts stand outside a brick building, with one holding a sign that says %22Go Wildcats Class of 2030.%22
In the foreground, two young people, one in a purple shirt and the other in a black shirt, stand near an exit, while in the background, more people in purple shirts are visible through open doorways leading to a grassy outdoor area.
In the foreground, two young women smile as they stand near a doorway, while in the background, other young people in purple shirts are visible near trees.
A young woman in a black skirt and green top walks through a doorway with a water bottle, while people in purple shirts stand in the background outside a building.
In the foreground, several young women in purple shirts sit behind a table with papers and water bottles, while in the background, a young man in a tan hoodie and red shorts walks away from the table.
Two teenage boys walk through a doorway into a brightly lit hallway, with a person in a purple shirt visible in the foreground.
Three smiling teenage boys walk through a doorway, with a yellow school bus visible in the blurred background.
A young boy in a teal shirt walks through an open doorway with a security scanner on the wall, while other children are visible in the background.
In the foreground, two teenage girls walk towards the viewer, while in the background, other students in purple shirts are seen entering a building.
A person in a purple shirt stands in the foreground, facing away from the camera, as a group of smiling students walks through an open doorway into a building in the background.
A smiling boy in a black hoodie walks through an open doorway, with a time clock on the wall to his left and greenery visible in the background.
In the foreground, a group of young women in casual attire interact near a white backdrop, while in the background, a hallway with large windows and a glimpse of greenery is visible.
In the foreground, two people in purple shirts sit at a table, while in the background, a group of students stand in a hallway with posters and a yellow school bus visible.