Starting in a new school can be tough. Starting in the middle of the term can be a little more difficult.
Junior Harley Goodman said her biggest challenge in moving to West Delaware was finding her way around the building.
“Abby Kass (11) showed me to my classes and was amazingly kind,” Goodman said. “She made sure I was comfortable at school and was ready to be on my own before she left.”
Sydnee Feliciano (10), who transferred recently from Florida, says her biggest challenge coming in the middle of the year was learning what students in her classes already knew and getting used to block scheduling.
“Block scheduling was extremely difficult to get used to since I used to have seven periods a day and only spent 35-40 minutes in each class,” Feliciano said. “I like block scheduling more because now I have less homework and fewer classes to worry about.”
Every school has different requirements to graduate. For instance, West Delaware requires 56 credits; Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids, 33; and Spring Creek High in Florida, 100.
School counselor Shelby Piersch helps new students make a comfortable transition.
“We do our best to try and align the students’ classes they had before to West Delawares’ classes, so the students may participate in the credit recovery program to keep them on track to graduate.”
Credit recovery involves online classes that move faster to catch students up to where they need to be to graduate.
Piersch reminds students that they need to be kind, welcoming, and understanding of new students.
“Students need to make sure to not single them out as a new kid,” Piersch said. “There is a difference between being welcoming and being overbearing.”
Feliciano was extremely nervous for lunch on her first day knowing she had to eat alone. “I stepped out of my comfort zone to make friends and eat with others,” Feliciano said.
Goodman attended West Delaware from kindergarten to first grade and returned to West Delaware after ten years of attending Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids.
“I am really glad to have the opportunity to join extracurricular activities, such as basketball cheer,” Goodman said. “Everyone here seems so sweet and helpful.”
