Jonathan D. Dudy
Orientation for Greer High School's new Freshman Academy was held Thursday.
Jonathan D. Duty
Clubs and organizations promoted and advertised their information to students and parents in the school’s Commons.
Jonathan D. Duty
The class of 2020 theme is #FocusedOnTheFuture.
Greer High School continued to introduce its new programs to the public as it hosted a pair of student orientations Thursday night.
The first orientation was for Upper Class students that are new to the high school, while the latter was a Freshman Orientation for the school’s new Freshman Academy.
Over 700 parents and students attended the Freshman Academy Orientation/Pep Rally that featured the school’s “G-Force” Marching Band Drum line and cheers from the Varsity Cheerleading Team that sported its new uniforms for the upcoming year.
Greer High School Assistant Principal and Freshman Academy Administrator Todd Stafford were impressed with the community’s turnout. “Based on last night’s turnout, it is clear that we have a supportive community that wants our students to succeed at a high level,” Stafford said.
The Freshman Academy’s theme for the upcoming school year is #FocusedOnTheFuture. The theme speaks to the major goal of the academy, to promote academic and social success and to ensure the students’ promotion to the 10th grade.
“The Freshman Academy will serve to promote the success of all of our students,” Stafford said. “With the support of our parents and our community, the sky is limit. Our theme of #FocusedOnTheFuture exemplifies the culture and climate that we want to create in our building surrounding our freshmen. Last night was the beginning of that process.”
Students and parents were introduced to new Greer High School Principal Justin Ludley and also received information regarding the school’s lunch, Student Government and International Baccalaureate Programs.
Another new caveat to the school is that the Freshman Academy will have its own school counselor. Dr. Sharon Knight, new to Greer High School, will serve as the Academy’s counselor.
“It was great seeing so many freshmen parents and students last night,” Knight said. “As students get older, we see a decline in parental involvement, but last night’s attendance was amazing. I was excited to see so many parents here with their child.”
Knight said having a Freshman Academy counselor is imperative to the success of the students in their first year of high school. “Freshman year is a transition year,” Knight said. “They are leaving an environment where they were given a little bit of freedom and moving into an environment where they will have to accept more responsibility.
“Freshmen are adjusting to more rigorous classes as well as trying to balance out the social aspect of high school. It can be overwhelming for some students. As the freshmen counselor, my role is to help them with all aspects of high school,” Knight said.
Following the Pep Rally, students attended their respective advisory classes to get more information about the beginning of school. The students and parents then took a tour of the school, while having the opportunity to meet their teachers.
The school also allowed clubs and organizations to promote and advertise their information to students and parents in the school’s Commons.
The school year begins Tuesday morning with students attending Advisory at 8:45 a.m.
• Jonathan D. Duty is an English teacher and Newspaper Adviser at Greer High School.