‘Party On The Plaza’ Introduces New Students To Wheeling Park High School
Photo by Derek Redd Freshman mentor Lilly Smith, center, guides incoming freshman Tesla Joseph, left, and mother Julie Joseph around Wheeling Park High School during "Party on the Plaza."
Photo by Derek Redd Students and parents were treated to Dupe's Scoops ice cream and a giant inflatable slide Monday at "Party on the Plaza."
Photo by Derek Redd Wheeling Park High School Principal Meredith Dailer goes over procedures Monday night at the school's "Party on the Plaza" new student orientation.
Photo by Derek Redd Freshman mentor Lilly Smith, center, guides incoming freshman Tesla Joseph, left, and mother Julie Joseph around Wheeling Park High School during "Party on the Plaza."
Photo by Derek Redd Students and parents were treated to Dupe's Scoops ice cream and a giant inflatable slide Monday at "Party on the Plaza."
Photo by Derek Redd Wheeling Park High School Principal Meredith Dailer goes over procedures Monday night at the school's "Party on the Plaza" new student orientation.
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Students new to Wheeling Park High School had the opportunity Monday night to get a closer look inside the building before classes officially began -- and if ice cream and a giant inflatable slide could be part of it, even better.
The school hosted its “Party on the Plaza” on Monday night, an orientation opportunity for new students and their parents to learn the rules at WPHS, meet their new teachers and navigate the halls of the school before they get crowded with every student on the roster.
WPHS Principal Meredith Dailer said this year, the school wanted to make the experience even more fun.
“I think it’s important for our incoming freshmen to feel comfortable on the first day,” Dailer said. “So anything we can do to open the building, make it a little more fun, a little more inviting, that’s exactly what we want to do for our kids.”
When students and parents walked up to the school, they were greeted with Dupe’s Scoops’ ice cream truck, the line for which stretched long for most of the night, as well as a giant inflatable slide. They also were offered sandwiches, chips and drinks.
When they entered the school, there was an orientation period led by Dailer, then students got their schedules for the year and walked the halls with freshman mentors, upperclassmen volunteering their evening to help the new students get comfortable.
Lilly Smith was taking Tesla Joseph and mother Julie Joseph through the upstairs hallway. Tesla Joseph said Monday’s opportunity made her feel more at ease for the official start of school on Wednesday.
“It’s definitely a change,” she said, “but I think being here before school starts is really helping me to figure out where I’m going and I’ll be way more comfortable when I come back on Wednesday.”
Julie Joseph agreed that “Party on the Plaza” was a great way to get students ready for the year.
“It’s a wonderful blessing to have a sneak peek at what’s coming up in the next couple of days, and I think it’s been really informative,” she said. “And we’ve had a wonderful guide in Lilly.”
Smith remembers her first tour of the school when she was an incoming freshman, and how helpful her mentor was. She wanted to give the Josephs that same experience.
“I just wanted to make sure I gave just as good of an experience as I got learning everything,” Smith said. “I just wanted to make sure I could be as helpful as possible.”