Getting started in a new school can be quite difficult, especially after summer vacation. A quickly expected transition into a new building, schedule, and classmates can be demanding.
One immediate issue for newcomers to Barrington High School is simply getting adjusted to a new school, especially in terms of navigation. Students shouldn’t have to miss classes or be marked tardy because they get lost or require extra time getting around.
Calder Smith-Montross, a new student, explained that some things that caused him trouble were getting around the school and finding classes, but the Ambassador Program helped him significantly.
I spoke to Sam Bishop, a member of the Ambassador Program, who explained how it worked.
The Ambassador Program helped students locate courses during the first few weeks of school, especially helping students new to the district. Members of the program were each assigned a new student to offer answers to questions and issues.
However, some changes that could be implemented into the program would be to have it continue further throughout the school year and also provide help to struggling freshmen since they are also new to the school.
After some interviews with freshmen David Horowitz and Claire Mctaggart, it was clear that many incoming first-years were unaware of the Ambassador Program at the beginning of the school year. Therefore, additional benefits could include spreading more awareness of this organization, such as through the Sunrise Show or teachers’ recommendations.
To propose these suggestions, I spoke with Mrs. Royley, the head of the Ambassador Program, to get her thoughts on some of these ideas.
“I think it’s a possibility,” she said. “If we could get referrals from the 8th-grade teachers or guidance counselors to say, ‘This kid might benefit from having an ambassador’” Overall, she seemed to think it was a good idea. “If we accepted enough kids into the Ambassador Program, we could link them with freshmen.”
With these changes, freshmen would have an easier time getting around and feel better off starting in a new school.
Overall, the Ambassador Program is a great way to get students involved with the school and increases student support within the school. By allowing more students access to the program, it could be an even better system for new students in the current and future school years.