Parents and students fill the seats at Westfield High School freshman orientation Aug. 20, 2019. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – Westfield High School hosted a freshman orientation on Tuesday morning for parents and incoming students.
Several hundred people filled the auditorium to hear about student life and school expectations. Freshmen were then dismissed for a tour of the building and to find their lockers, while Principal Charles Jendrysik addressed the parents.
Jendrysik told the parents that the school’s priority is safety, and encouraged them to speak to the administration about any concerns. “We don’t know what we don’t know,” he said, adding, “Kids won’t learn if they’re not comfortable, or are anxious or stressed.”
Principal Charles Jendrysik addresses parents after students are dismissed. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Jendrysik assured parents that the school has many resources for them. “We do a nice job of connecting with kids,” he said.
Freshman Rylee Labonte works on her locker combination. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Meanwhile, the freshmen were connecting with their student guides, many from the National Honor Society. NHS seniors Colin Scanlon and Will Cameron said they would start with the “important stuff;” the cafeteria, bathrooms and lockers. They also toured the academic wings, library and gymnasium.
Junior nose guard Jeremiah Masso and center Jorge Serrano of the WHS Bombers Football. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Waiting in the hall outside the auditorium were enthusiastic representatives of the WHS Marching Band program and the Bombers Football team.
Junior noseguard Jeremiah Masso and center Jorge Serrana were selling football cards which feature the game schedule, and offer discounts to area restaurants including Short Stop Bar & Grill, Westwood, Sok’s Runway, Westfield River Brewing and Santiago’s, along with online discounts.
Parent Ivette Ortiz, president of the Bombers Booster Club. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Ivette Ortiz, president of the Football Booster Club and Serrano’s mother, said the cards will be on sale for two more weeks.
Also on hand to greet the freshmen was the team’s thunderbird mascot, who they call the Bomber Bird.
WHS Band and Orchestra Parents (BOPS) vice president Jennifer Thielen. (Photo by Amy Porter)
“The freshmen orientation is always one of my favorite events to host. I hope that we provided students and their parents with better understanding of our school culture, a level of comfort transitioning to the high school, and an opportunity to have any of their questions answered. I was very happy with the large turnout and am looking forward to another great year,” Jendrysik said following the event.
Seniors Mashkur Ziblim and Emily Coloske handed out schedules to freshmen at orientation. (Photo by Amy Porter)
School begins on Thursday, Aug. 29.
