Members of the incoming Class of 2027 gathered on the Riverbank High School campus on Monday, July 31 in the Ray Fauria Memorial Gymnasium for Freshman Orientation, the first day of the next four years of their high school careers.
They were greeted by teachers, staff and members of the Link Crew, upper classmen that would help guide them through their first day on campus.
The freshmen got to participate in a number of team building exercises, masquerading as fun and games, along with receiving information about what to expect and what is available to them on campus.
Principal Greg Diaz welcomed the class and pointed out a number of activities that they could participate in, including clubs and sports. He also talked about how quickly the four years would flash by, and cautioned them to avoid regretting not participating when school was over.
Some of the team building involved games, like a race to pop balloons, back-to-back, with a Link Crew team captain. They included several rounds of ‘Simon Says,’ with most of the students falling out immediately in the first round, but soon catching on in later rounds.
The Link leadership team members were easy to spot on the day, wearing bright pink T-shirts that featured a large caricature shark, with two smaller fish, with the caption: “Freshmen are FRIENDS, not food!” in a reference to the popular Finding Nemo movie.
There was also a nonsense song with accompanying hand gestures that sped up to the point that no one could keep up, but many seemed to have fun trying, sharing laughs along the way.
The RHS office reports that the Class of 2027 consists of 212 students, for a total enrollment this year of 823 at Riverbank High School so far. Last year’s registration was in the 700+ range.
The Monday orientation began at 8 a.m. and was done by noon, with tours of the locations of various classrooms later in the morning.
RHS teachers were to be in their classrooms the rest of the week, making preparations for the first day of class, on Friday, Aug. 4.
Similar schedules are in place for other district schools, as all campuses will welcome students back for the start of the new school year on Friday morning.
CMS Round Up
Also on Monday, students at Cardozo Middle School participated in their Round Up, in the cafeteria.
Seventh and eighth graders came from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., while the sixth graders were there from noon to 2 p.m.
While there, the students picked up their class schedules and were able to pay their Chromebook insurance as well as pay for their PE clothes.
Tours of the campus were also available.
