On Tuesday, Sept. 4, ninth grade
students had Niskayuna High School to
themselves, perhaps for the only time in
their high school careers. This year,
school officials decided to hold a first
day for ninth grade students only to
allow for more time for them to get
acclimated and more space for them to
feel their way around the school that
will be their home for the next four
years.
The day included a tour of the building
with teachers and upperclassmen
volunteers, an extended homeroom, an
assembly that included an introduction
to the Counseling Center, class advisors
and an overview of the Code of Conduct
and school expectations by Assistant
Principal Mark Treanor. The program also
allowed ninth grade students to travel
their entire schedule – for both A and B
Days -- and thus meet all of their
teachers.
Treanor emphasized the critical nature
of the transition from eighth to ninth
grade, and said the orientation program
was an effort to make sure students get
the best possible start to high school.
“We are thrilled that we had this
opportunity to take the day and help our
ninth grade students make this
adjustment,” Treanor said. “They got a
lot of good information today. We want
to do everything we can to make sure
they are successful.”
Treanor said that an added benefit of
the new format was that when
upperclassmen returned on Wednesday, all
students would be ready for a full
academic day.
In the orientation assembly, the high
school administration, counselors, and
class advisors emphasized to students
that they have an incredible array of
academic and extracurricular
opportunities available to them at the
high school.
“There is something for everyone here,”
Guidance Counselor Karl Swisher said.
“Take advantage of everything at the
high school. It’s a great place to go to
school.”
More than 50 upperclassmen volunteered
to help with the orientation program.
Ninth grade student Beca Piascik and a
group of classmates eating lunch
together said the older students had
been helpful as they made their way
through the halls and looked for their
classes.
“Having the orientation is a lot
better,” Piascik said.
The high school is surveying ninth grade
students, staff members, and parents
about the effectiveness of the new
orientation.
