By Yunseo Lee, Year 11
Imagine that you are a new student at a new school in a new country: everything is confusing and different from what you are used to. It’s certainly scary. So to assist new students with their transitions, LGB hosted orientations during the last week of summer to welcome parents and students joining the Ecolint community this year.
The orientation began at 8:30 as new students gathered in the Greek Theatre for a speech by Dr. Hughes. Then, after the school administrators and a number of teachers introduced themselves, the students were separated into groups and took a short tour around the school grounds by current LGB students.
“I led the French group… I showed them around and told them a bit about the school,” said a Year 13 student who volunteered for the event. “We were excited to see all the new people, but I think, for them, it was kind of nerve-wracking, which is understandable, but overall it was a fun atmosphere.” She also commented on the impact orientation days have on new students, saying, “I think [what was most helpful was] getting familiar with the new place since our campus is quite large.”
Sabine Ebanks, Year 13, who also volunteered, added, “I think it was definitely good for students to get a tour before they started school; even if they didn’t remember it all on their first day, it was at least good for them to get familiar with the campus. I also think it was probably good for them to meet some of the students at the school [before the school year starts].”
Shortly after the tour, the students went on to take placement tests for maths and English, as well as Raven tests (cognitive processes and general ability assessment). There was a 45-minute lunch break and after, they continued taking tests and participating in interviews for French and their third languages. At 15:15, the orientation ended and the students departed after the long day.
Angel Zhang, a new Year 11 student, talked about her own experience at the orientation: “It was not stressful. I think everyone made sure we’d be the least anxious and that we feel comfortable.” When asked about the part of orientation day that was most helpful to her, she answered, “It’s kind of a minor thing, but it’s when [the teachers] said, ‘If you need help going anywhere, you could just drop in at the secondary reception.’ The first couple of weeks, I went there almost every day because I didn’t know my way around, and it was really helpful.’”
The students also pointed out some parts of the orientation that they thought could have been better. Angel mentioned the Raven tests, saying, “It’s not really anything bad, but I had no clue what Raven was. No negative feelings about it, but just the confusion … Not completely necessary, but it would have been better if I had known what Raven is, maybe a little description.”
“I think it would’ve been nice if there were more students volunteering and more time for socializing between the new students and the ones already there. The volunteers didn’t really get to talk much to any of the new students, which was a bit of a shame,” Sabine commented as well on the student-led tour.
Despite these parts, all three interviewees agreed that orientation days are important and necessary for new students.
“You can feel comfortable without an orientation but, for me, as an anxious person, it added a layer of comfort. [When I first arrived in Year 10], I didn’t come to school thinking, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing.’ It was a nice thing to have,” remarked a Year 13 student.
“I think orientation days are super important. When I was new at LGB in year 10, the orientation was really helpful in figuring out my way around the school, and I met some people there that I hung out with in the first few weeks of school,” Sabine recounted. “I think that the more socializing between the students there is on orientation day, the better because it makes students feel comfortable and less like they’re going into a new school completely alone.”
The LGB community welcomes new students and parents, and hopes that they have an awesome year at Ecolint!
