The class of 2028 received a warm welcome from the JPS HAWKs at their freshmen orientation. On August 28th, the newcomers arrived at JP Stevens for the first time from 7:30 am to 12 pm as an introduction to the high school environment. An abundance of HAWKs consisting of upperclassmen students came together to assist the volunteer staff members in this welcoming. 

Having spent all summer preparing in anticipation for this moment, the HAWKs diligently organized their orientation responsibilities. The reconnaissance previewing the entrance of the new students stipulated for each volunteer to check in and prepare with their team. In the early summer morning, the excitement to ready the freshmen was building up with each passing minute. Eventually it was time for kids to arrive, so half of the volunteer HAWKs lined up against the hallways ready to greet them. With this arrangement in place, the other half was set up in the new gym to register each student. As students started to enter the building one by one, the HAWKs clapped for them from their locations as a ritual method of salute. This first impression gave everyone an authentic introduction to the accepting community that they would be in for the rest of their high school careers.

As the registration process was being completed in the new gym, the HAWKs directed some of the students to the old gym, where they would take their school I.D. pictures. The rest of the freshmen were guided through the large halls and into the school cafeteria to await the formal introductions. The cafe crowded swiftly with the immense amount of students, giving them a taste of the regular JP life. With the collaborative directive from the HAWKs and staff members, this large adjustment into the lunch room subsided. The school marching band performed the JPS fight song with additional tunes. Before a special guest speaker took over the kids’ attention, the new principal Dr. Kim gave everyone a friendly welcome to high school along with the assistant vice principals. Matt Belace took over the program with his public speaking about psychology and motivation. This event consisted of fun games and entertaining speeches to start off the day. Soon after, the volunteer staff organized the students into their respective homerooms while the HAWKs took over control of their assigned groups, dismissing each homeroom section to their locations. Each homeroom was assigned 4-5 HAWKs with the addition of a staff member to regulate the homeroom activities. As the volunteers became acquainted with the incoming classmates, they answered general questions regarding JP, handed out locker assignments, and went over the school schedule. This proved to be helpful for the freshmen to gain knowledge about their future school from people with firsthand knowledge.  Another way for the students to gain more confidence in the building was to walk them through the school. 

“The HAWKs were really helpful, they gave us tips about how to get around the school and guided us,” said freshman Franco Salerno. 

After some time in their homerooms, the assistant principal announced over the building-wide intercom that rotations were starting. These rotations were led by the HAWK leaders through the library, gym, cafeteria, and counseling office.

Each homeroom section was organized into a different part of the school in order to maintain a structured coordination with each other. After five minutes at a rotation location, the HAWKS would guide their students to the next scheduled sequence. At the library, the librarian Mrs. Stein aided some HAWKs in a discussion of important information regarding technology etiquette, administration rules, and general library details. While in the gym rotation, students who hadn’t taken their school I. D. photos completed this task. They also collected their school issued macbooks in the cafeteria. The HAWK leaders took the students to the guidance counselors’ offices to introduce them to JP’s counseling services and discuss the support that is always available in school. After the conclusion of the four rotations, the assistant principal allowed each homeroom section to return back to their locations for the last few activities. 

Approaching the end of the event, the students were able to tour the entire JP building. With volunteers scattered about the school to navigate anyone lost, the freshman roamed the halls as they identified what would be their school for the rest of their high school lives. During this, the heat of the summer morning increased the humidity in the hallways. As a result, cold ice cream sandwiches were handed out to all of the students and faculty members. After about 15 minutes, the students were called back to their homerooms to officially close out the day.

Each HAWK worked diligently to make sure that every student was secure within their respective homeroom section. As a result, the closeout to the orientation was able to occur smoothly. Students were able to ask any final questions, log in to their macbooks, and discuss respective outlooks for the new year. In addition to this, the school motto for the 2024-2025 school year, ‘all as one’ was expanded on. 

“Orientation was a work in progress that resulted in the opportunity to talk to people about their interests and goals,” Said the co-president of the HAWKs club, junior Anya Shah. “I think it was so much fun, especially meeting new people.” The success of the freshman orientation was evident as the new students sped out of the classrooms and met with their friends, ice creams in hand.