A breakfast for new students was held to help new entrants be informed about their school and also have some fun meeting new people.
The student entry program is all about students who are new to high school and maybe new to the district, state, or even the country. The school has, on average, 35-40 new entrants from different schools. The program was also introduced three years ago by guidance counselor, Donald Graham. The program’s purpose is to help all the new students who most likely don’t know anybody and make sure they have a smooth transition to their new school.
“I think [the program] lets them know that we care about them and that we didn’t forget about them,” said Graham.
Like any new program, it evolves and the student entry breakfast is being changed to be run by students, specifically the Office of Student Life. The goal is to have more conversations with students rather than adults. On the day of the new student entry breakfast a game of getting to know who you are is played in groups. Speakers presented and after that they would have breakfast and receive Commack merchandise.
“It was a good experience to have […] all the new kids come together and learning more about the school and just […] see everybody, that […] you’re not alone, that you’re not the only one..,”said junior Isabella C.
The student entry breakfast also has an additional program, The Buddy Program. The Buddy Program is intended to support for 6 weeks. The program is set up during lunch periods for all the new students, and they do it so that the students can familiarize themselves with the people, the building and have people to talk to during a lunch period.
“We want them to be able to have the opportunity to come together and share their experiences and recognize that their not alone in that experience,” said psychologist Jessica Reiger.
The student entry program opens a door for all the new students who may have not know how they could navigate a school as large as Commack. It also shows them that there are other kids that are going through a similar experience and shows them opportunities that they may not have had known.🔳
