WELCOME ACTIVITIES

RATIONALE

Welcome activites are great ways to get the positive attention of the entire student body. It is important to "hit" the staff and students with exciting, fun, and well-organized activities right at the beginning of the year. This will demonstrate that school is an good place to be and will encourage immediate participation.

A FEW EXAMPLES:

• NEW TEACHERS

  The student council executive sends flowers with a special welcome note to all teachers new to the school during Welcome Week.

• STAFF WELCOME

  To welcome back all teachers, secretaries, and custodians, the student council executive offers coffee, juice and muffins or cookies to everyone. They pick a day during Welcome Week and divide the school up into various areas that they are responsible for. They have a push cart with hot coffee and refreshments, and knock on the classroom doors during the first period of the day. Teachers are normally not permitted to eat or drink in the classrooms during the lessons, so they really appreciate this special treatment.

• NEW STUDENTS PARTY

  During Welcome Week, most of the emphasis is placed on welcoming the Grade 9 students. We must remember that there are a significant number of students that are always new in grades other than 9 (transfers, exchange students etc.). They too, must be made to feel welcome. Often they don't know anyone else in the school. During Welcome Week, a personal invitation is sent to each of these students (identified by the Guidance Office) to come to a party after school. Pop and cookies are served along with a welcome from the Student Council President and members of the executive and encouraged to participate in the extra-curricular program. The students are asked to introduce themselves, tell where they are from and what their former school was like.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

How do people new to your school feel?

Is your school an intimidating place because of size, population, rules or atmosphere?

Have you asked the first year students how they felt in September?

What can you do to make your school more welcoming to all?

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