A rainbow of backpacks crowded the pews, matching the stained glass on the walls above. Students filed into St. Andrew’s church chatting to each other over the pleasant thump of jazz music.
As these familiar scenes from a typical Community High opening ceremony commenced, a new school year began. As in previous years the ceremony opened with remarks from returning students and a welcome message from Dean Jen Hein.
Following a parody of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” from the T.V. comedy by the same name, Tuned In, a group of CHS students dedicated to dispelling the myths often attributed to the school, performed a skit. It was meant to calm the nerves of new students and remind returning students about what makes CHS great. The skit also played into the theme of this year’s event: finding and acting on inspiration. In addition outstanding students who shared their inspiration or passion or who have been a source of inspiration for others were acknowledged.
Listen to “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” parody from the CHS opening ceremony.
Sarah Roldan, a social studies teacher new to CHS appreciated the focus of the all-school assembly. “It is important to talk about ways that we are all inspired… sometimes I think hearing what inspires someone else you might absorb some of that and start finding that to be inspiration for yourself. I’m always interested in what people are into,” she said.
Roldan moved to Community as a result of the surplussing at Huron due to budget constraints last year. She will teach two World History classes at CHS. When she’s not teaching Roldan will work as the building substitute, filling in for other teachers who are gone.
She noted an all-school gathering was different from past first day of school experiences. “I’m overwhelmed with the energy from the opening ceremony. Just the energy in the hallways and talking to different students is a really positive way to start the year,” said Roldan.
While opening day traditions represent the return to a routine for most involved, for the freshman class of 2015 along with the other new students and staff the opening ceremony was their first CHS experience.
Emre Babbitt, a sophomore new to CHS this semester was impressed. “It was different, but I thought the music was really cool… I can see this being a very good and fun year,” he said.
Even with positive first impressions, the new arrangement may take some getting used to for a student who spent his freshman year at Huron. “I expected it to be different, but not this different,” said Babbitt. “It is still really awesome though.”
Roldan is eager to start work with her students given the positive reactions she received on the first day. “I’m looking forward to get a hold on teaching World History in a way that I hadn’t been able to before. I know I’m going to be approaching it in a different way and I’m excited that—before I was teaching all freshman—I get to teach variety of kids so I can try some different things… People seemed like they were really open to what I was explaining about the class. People seemed like they were really excited by it,” she said.
