Upperclassmen mentors gather for a group photo during “All About Park” after spending the evening guiding incoming freshmen and answering questions about life at Wheeling Park High School. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

WHEELING — Wheeling Park High School welcomed incoming freshmen and their families this week for its annual “All About Park” open house, offering a comprehensive look at academics, athletics, fine arts and career pathways available to future Patriots.

The evening began with a welcome session and scheduling overview in the Performing Arts Center, where families received information about graduation requirements, course selection and academic planning. After the presentation, visitors were invited to explore the building, meet teachers and coaches, and see programs in action throughout the school.

Jennifer Kucera-Short, Counseling Department Chairperson at WPHS, said the event is designed to highlight the full high school experience.

“We put together this evening to really show how awesome Wheeling Park High School is,” Kucera-Short said. “We want them to know everything we have to offer – all of the classes we have available for students to choose from. We want them to get familiar with the building. We want them to meet the staff. Just to see all the opportunities they have if they’re going to be a Patriot.”

Girls lacrosse members wait to connect with future Patriots during the “All About Park” open house. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

To help manage attendance and ensure families have space to explore, the open house is divided into two sessions based on last names.

“This is only half,” Kucera-Short said. “We do it by alphabet so that way we can do half and half so the building is not too congested with being able to show everything. We have our CTE students actually cooking and other groups and programs actually working on things. We want to make sure everybody really gets the chance to go around to really enjoy it and see it.”

Departments throughout the building showcased required courses, Advanced Placement and college-preparatory classes, and elective options. The Science Department demonstrated its robotics program, while the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department held a concurrent open house with live demonstrations in its classrooms. Athletic teams were stationed in the gymnasium, where coaches and student-athletes shared information about fall, winter and spring sports. Clubs and student organizations were also represented, alongside Fine Arts programs including theater, visual arts, speech and debate, and music.

The event serves as the kickoff to a broader transition program for eighth graders preparing to enter the high school.

Incoming freshmen and their families fill the Performing Arts Center at Wheeling Park High School as they attend the opening session of the annual All About Park event. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

“We do this every year,” Kucera-Short said. “It kicks off our transition program with our middle schools. Park is a big place and we want to make sure that it’s not overwhelming for students. We make sure to have a good transition plan to make the new students feel comfortable and to know they are welcomed here.”

As part of that transition plan, the eighth-grade calendar includes a series of tours beginning March 5 and running through March 17 for all four junior highs that feed into Wheeling Park High School. A shadow day for students entering from private and parochial schools will be held March 9.

Kucera-Short said she hopes the open house leaves a lasting impression on future freshmen.

“I hope they leave here very, very excited to be freshmen at Wheeling Park High School,” she said.