SCHS holds annual Freshmen Fest
Stephens County High School welcomed incoming 9th graders to tour the school last week during Freshmen Fest.
According to Stephens County High School Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction Jessica Simmons, Freshmen Fest was started several years ago to give incoming freshmen an opportunity to see first-hand the CTAE Pathways the school offers and to tour the school.
“We started Freshmen Fest several years ago to give the 8th graders an opportunity to come and actually be able to see our Pathways and programs. We found that when they were trying to register for classes it’s hard for them to visualize what these classes are, and we want them to see it in action so that they are making informed choices when they are registering,” she said.
Haley Rider is an RN and the Allied Health and Medicine instructor at the high school. She says her current Phlebotomy students used Freshmen Fest as an opportunity to show the incoming 9th graders what the class offers but also to meet their stick requirement.
Stephanie Dinh is a senior in Rider’s Phlebotomy class. She says the Healthcare Pathway will give her an advantage when she graduates high school.
Stacey Hemphill is the Graphics teacher at the high school. She says the Graphics class offers students a look into the field of Graphic Design and Advertising.
Stephens County School Superintendent Dr. Constance Franklin says Freshmen Fest provides an excellent opportunity for the students who will soon be attending high school.
“I’m super excited tonight to experience my first Freshmen Fest at Stephens County High School. The upcoming freshmen are here getting a taste of what it’s going to be like in high school. They’re getting to experience all of the CTAE Programs, to meet teachers, to see the labs, to see what clubs are offered, what classes are offered, what pathways that they can participate in. There’s a lot of excitement, the teachers are excited, the students are excited. It’s just a wonderful opportunity for our upcoming freshmen,” she said.
Jake Cawthon was one of the incoming freshmen during the event. He says he got a look at JROTC.
“I think it’s pretty cool. I’m really interested in JROTC. I think everybody looks pretty nice here, so I’m excited about coming,” he said.
Alli Kay Ivey is another incoming freshman, she says the cosmetology pathway unexpectedly peaked her interest.
“I was really excited to come here. We got the tour Tuesday and that was nice to get familiar with the place. Something that spoke to me that I didn’t think would was cosmetology, I thought that was really cool. I’ve always known I wanted to do something in the Healthcare Field, so I’m going to take Healthcare and eventually become a Labor and Delivery Nurse,” she said.
There will be 326 Freshmen entering high school at the start of the 2022-2023 academic year.