Orientations start buildup to beginning of school

St. Mary Parish junior high and high schools get a head start on the 2016-17 school year by hosting orientations this week for parents and students.

Orientations begin today and continue through Aug. 4. Each school has a different schedule.

The orientations provide students and parents with an opportunity to become familiar with the overall school setting and various programs available during and after school, St. Mary Assistant Superintendent Teresa Bagwell said.

“Most of the time your orientations are held in succinct specific grade levels so that it offers students the opportunity to get information that is just for them,” Bagwell said.

“And also because of the small group, they can ask questions more freely.”

Typically, the orientation will provide a time after the information session for students to walk around the school and locate their classrooms, locker, or find the cafeteria or gym.

“For middle school students, practicing opening the locker for the first time is a big deal,” Bagwell said. “So, that’s very helpful to them.”

Attending orientations are not mandatory but it puts students at an advantage for success on the first day of school.

“We feel like parents should attend the orientation with their children so that they’re both knowledgeable about how our school runs and what our expectations are,” said Morgan City Junior High guidance counselor Jill Tamporello.

Good community connections between schools, faculties, students, parents and local businesses are essential partnerships for achieving overall success. But parents do play a key role.

“We need our parents informed and involved,” Tamporello said. “Parental involvement is not only beneficial to the students for their grades and academic achievement.

“But also for extracurricular activities, for our teachers and just the overall well-being of the student at school.”

All schools have spent the summer preparing for the return of students, Bagwell said. Teachers have been in their classrooms organizing, decorating, and getting their lesson plans together.

“They’re very anxious to begin a new school year with all of the excitement that it brings.”

The first day of school is Aug. 8.

The following orientation schedules for schools are:

—Patterson High, July 26; 5:30 p.m., ninth-12th. This year Patterson High will host orientation and open house at the same time.

—Morgan City Junior High, July 27; 8-9 a.m., seventh and eighth grades; 10:30-11:30 a.m., sixth grade.

—Berwick High, July 27; 9-11 a.m., 12th grade; noon-2 p.m., 11th grade; and July 28: 9-11 a.m., 10th grade; noon-2 p.m., ninth grade.

—Morgan City High, July 28; 8:30 a.m., 12th grade; 10:30 a.m., 11th grade; 1 p.m., 10th grade; and July 29: 8 a.m., ninth grade.

—Berwick Junior High, Aug. 2; 8-10 a.m., sixth grade; 10:30 a.m.-noon, seventh grade; 1-2:30 p.m., eighth grade.

—Patterson Junior High, Aug. 3; 8 a.m., fifth grade; 10 a.m., eighth grade; and Aug. 4: 8 a.m., seventh grade; 10 a.m., sixth grade.