Filing in to the sound of the fight song, over 300 freshmen took their seats in the gymnasium on Monday, Aug. 15 in order to begin their freshman orientation. Freshman orientation is a day planned by StuCo on the first day of the school year in order to familiarize freshmen with their new school.

“[The point of orientation is] to give them one day to kind of get acclimated before the older kids come up,” assistant StuCo sponsor Jessica DeWild said. “The upperclassmen and seniors can be kind of intimidating so it’s the day they can ask questions without feeling intimidated.”

The first event of the day was a pep assembly where the freshmen learned the school fight song led, by communication arts teacher Justin Bogart.

“I just like the chance to be one of the first teachers that gets to talk to them,” Bogart said

During the pep assembly, the students also participated in relays, air guitar and dance battles, watched the cheer and dance teams perform and saw a fashion show by StuCo members demonstrating the dress code. The events were characterized by a theme, “School of Rock,” which was voted on by StuCo.

The dance off included dance styles such as “The Jerk,” “Stanky Leg,” “Move It Like Bernie,” and “The Dougie.” Sophomore StuCo member Jason Biesma was chosen to demonstrate his dance moves for the freshmen before they began their dance off.

“I felt like I was rockin’ the beats and I was layin’ down the steps pretty well,” Biesma said. “I think the freshmen learned who was boss a little.”

Freshman Spencer Adams won the battle, earning a free ticket to Homecoming.

“I was a little bit nervous,” Adams said. “My leg was shaking a little bit when I got up there.”

Also winning a Homecoming ticket was freshman Greyson Jenista, who won the relay. Six pairs of freshmen from each group were asked to run to center court, put on a costume, get through a group of paparazzi (StuCo members with paper cameras), race to the end of the court and piggyback ride back to the starting line.

“The competition of it was fun,” Jenista said. “I’m planning on going to Homecoming.”

After the relays, StuCo members dressed up in clothing to demonstrate what is inappropriate to wear to school. Biesma donned a spaghetti strap tank top, pink skirt and heels for the fashion show.

“I had to practice for hours on end to master those [heels] and try not to fall,” Biesma said.

Freshman cheerleader Courtney Ezzell performed for the first time in front of her peers as a member of the cheer squad.

“It was kind of scary, but I knew everyone so I wasn’t that nervous,” Ezzell said.

Ezzell also won the air guitar battle.

“I got picked to do it,” Ezzell said. “It was really fun, and I got a free homecoming ticket so I was really excited.”

After the pep assembly, freshmen went on a scavenger hunt around the school attempting to find such things as a teacher who can sing a Justin Bieber song and their student body president Rachel Mills. Mills waited in the foyer, signing papers from the students who recognized her from the assembly, and identifying herself to some that looked unsure.

“[My favorite part] is probably meeting all the new freshmen,” Mills said. “I like making them feel welcome before anyone else gets to. It’s an honor.”

Throughout the day, freshmen also went through a rotation of their classes and attended a club fair to see the various clubs.

“It’s a big deal for them and their probably anxious,” Mills said. “I bet they’re pretty nervous, but I’m probably more nervous than all of them combined.”

Freshman Olivia Midiros thinks that freshman orientation will help her prepare for the year.

“I think walking through my classes will be helpful,” Midiros said. “I am terrified for freshman year.”

For more photos of freshman orientation, click here.