With classes officially starting for the 2024-25 school year on Thursday, Aug. 8, about 200 members of the Class of 2028 were on campus this past week for a few hours. They got a head start on their high school journey, with a morning of information, recreational activities and team-building.

Freshman Orientation was hosted on Wednesday, July 31, in the Ray Fauria Memorial Gymnasium from 8 a.m. to noon. In addition to the freshmen involved, they were joined by a number of RHS staff members, as well as a group from the Link Club, a leadership group of upperclassmen, both male and female, who were to be assigned to the incoming students to assist them through the school year.

Members of the Link Club were easy to spot. In addition to appearing a little more mature than the incoming high schoolers, they all sported matching team T-shirts. Blue in color, with a distinctive logo on the back, the shirts depict a menacing shark peering down at a couple of guppies.

The caption says “Frosh are Friends, not Food,” alluding to the spirit of cooperation the upper classmen put forth for the day in guiding the freshmen, new to the campus.

The incoming students will begin their new journey as Bruins when school bells ring for the first time on Aug. 8.

However, this past week at orientation it was mostly fun and games, as they spent the morning playing games, introducing themselves to each other, and enjoyed other activities to both inform them, prepare them for upcoming classes and help them with team-building skills.

All grade levels, freshmen through seniors, will soon be back on campus, and classes will resume for all other schools in the Riverbank Unified School District as well.