With the start of the 2015-16 school year a week away, Warwick High School invited parents of new and ninth-grade students to an orientation on the evening of Wednesday, September 2, 2015. The session was set for 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the school’s Performing Arts Center.
A session just for parents
Unlike many back-to-school events, this orientation was designed for parents only. The district asked that students not attend. The goal was to give families of incoming freshmen and new students a clear picture of how the high school operates, what to expect in the first weeks and how to stay connected with teachers and staff.
For parents whose children were moving up from middle school, the high school can feel like a big step. Class schedules become more complex, extracurricular options multiply and students take on more independence. An orientation geared to adults helps parents understand the systems their children will be navigating.
Warwick High School is located at 301 W. Orange St. in Lititz. The Performing Arts Center, which hosts concerts, plays and assemblies throughout the year, provided a central location for the evening’s presentation.
A delayed start to the year
The first day of school for Warwick students in grades 1 through 12 was set for Wednesday, September 9, 2015. That date was later than in many past years, giving families a few extra days of summer after the Labor Day weekend.
The later start meant the orientation came at a useful moment. Parents had time to absorb the information, finish back-to-school shopping and help their children prepare before the first bell rang.
Dates to remember
The district also highlighted several upcoming events for high school families.
First football game and band premiere: On Friday, September 4, the Warriors were set to open their home schedule against Manheim Central at Grosh Field at Warwick High School. The game also marked the premiere of the marching band’s new show, a highlight of the fall for many families.
Picture day: Student photos were scheduled for Friday, September 11.
Back to School Night: Parents were invited back on Thursday, September 17, at 6:30 p.m. Back to School Night typically gives parents a chance to follow their child’s schedule, meet teachers and hear about expectations for each class.
Why orientation matters
Research and experience both suggest that the transition into ninth grade is a critical point in a student’s education. Students who start high school on solid footing, with good attendance, manageable course loads and strong connections to adults at school, tend to do better in later years.
Parents play an important role in that transition. Knowing how to reach teachers and counselors, how grades are reported and what support is available can make a real difference when questions arise. Orientation sessions like this one give families a head start.
Orientation evenings also give parents a chance to see the building for themselves. Walking the halls, finding the main office and the counseling center, and getting a feel for the campus can make it easier to picture a student’s day and to help with the inevitable first-week questions.
A community centered on its schools
In Lititz and the surrounding communities served by the Warwick School District, school events are often community events. Football games at Grosh Field draw crowds well beyond current families, and concerts and plays in the Performing Arts Center are fixtures on the local calendar.
The start of a new year brings that community together once again. From the first home game to Back to School Night, the opening weeks of September 2015 offered parents several opportunities to get involved and to support students as they began a new chapter.
For families of incoming freshmen in particular, the orientation was the first of many evenings they would spend at the high school over the next four years.