Incoming freshmen and new students at Bridgewater-Raritan High School attended a school orientation and club fair on August 29.

The orientation was kicked off with a presentation in the Bridgewater-Raritan High School auditorium, which included an introduction to the high school and the opportunity to ask questions. Principal Daniel Hemberger formally welcomed the new students to start off the day.

At the orientation, the incoming students were directed through a presentation explaining details about high school, such as the drop-block schedule that was recently instituted.

Then, seniors from the National Honor Society led groups of  10-15 freshmen/new students through all buildings of the high school campus. They informed the students about the purpose of each building while also sharing guidance from an upperclassman’s perspective. This allowed students to get a feel for the high school from individuals who had already had a lot of experience.

Once the tours were completed, the  new BRHS students were then directed to the large cafeteria where the club fair was being held. In addition to an ice cream stand, students had the opportunity to roam around the club stands and learn more about the clubs and opportunities at the high school.

Officers of roughly twenty clubs attended the event with tri-fold posters and other materials to publicize their organization to the incoming students. Certain tables offered treats for students after answering trivia questions while others led students through a demonstration of the club and its purpose.

One of the clubs in attendance was the BRHS Cosmology club, a group dedicated to learning more about the development of the universe. Senior Mayur Kashyap, co-president of the club, commented on speaking to the incoming class.

“The club fair was a great way to meet and interact with the class of 2028. I was able to talk about the club’s goals to focus more on aerospace and our plans to build a rocket… They will be the future of our club,” he said.

The events of the day served as an effective opportunity for students to get more comfortable with high school, especially through a transition from middle school to high school. Students were given the encouragement and guidance to start their high school career with awareness and reassurance.