TILS D-d

Opening Day Procedures

Activity: I observed, noted and critiqued the opening day of school this year.
Description: Our first day of school, with students, was August 5. Administrators are supposed
to be there at 7:30, and teachers who have duty are to be there by 7:35. All other teachers are to
be in their rooms by 8:00 with the first student bell ringing at 8:10.
a. What went well?
The first day of school was hectic, but overall, it went well. Students are required to wear
school-issued IDs, and most students come to orientation before school begins to get their
picture taken and pick up their ids; however, there are always those students who could
not attend. Our schools sets up a schedule and id center in the auditorium for those
students. We also have the Student Government Association and Leadership students help
manage the crowds and help new students- freshmen and transfers. Once classes begin,
most things are smooth until the end of the day. The only issue at the end of the day is the
bus ramp.

b. What did not?

The biggest oops in the planning of the first day of school was giving all of the
Freshman Academy teachers morning hall duty away from the Freshman Academy. This
is an issue because there were approximately 350 students in the freshman hallway, no
teachers, and unsure where to go or what to do. The teachers did not get to their rooms
until the first bell, so there was not a chance to simply be a visible presence on the first
day.

The second issue was not really preparing freshmen for the end of the day routines. This
could have been done by the teachers, but I think we all took it for granted that just
because they are in high school does not exclude the fact they are new students.
c. Given the chance to do it again, how would you do it better?
Next year, the first day of school, the freshman teachers do not have morning hall duty, so
they will be able to be in the hallway, outside their door to meet and speak to the new,
incoming freshmen to help them feel comfortable.
I also learned as the leader of the academy to make it part of our opening day procedures
to escort students where they need to go at the end of the day, so they will learn. We do
not want to treat them like middle school students; however, we can show them one time.