Queen Creek High freshman event prepared students for new year

The new school year has just started, but incoming freshmen at Queen Creek High School received a sneak peek to help them adapt to their new surroundings.

Before the first day of school, QCHS invites its incoming freshmen for a day that gives them the opportunity to create new relationships, explore their new campus and ease the transition to high school life.

QCHS history teacher Rick Payne described the aim behind the orientation event.

“The goal of orientation is to build a team and give the incoming freshmen some upperclassmen that are mentors. That they can reach out to talk to (and) get help from.” Payne stated in a Queen Creek Unified School District press release. “We want to try to build a bond between our freshman class. And so, this is the start.”

Sophomore Brooke Matthews helped with the orientation this year. He wanted to help those now in his former position feel comfortable and prepared for high school.

“I always promote our sports because our sports are such a big thing here. And our clubs, because we have so many different clubs and we have clubs for everybody,” Matthews stated in the release.

Incoming freshman Lilly Parechanian shared how orientation helped ease her move into high school by allowing her to become more familiar with the campus and meet new people.

Madan Grove, who recently transferred to QCHS, was surprised by the experience.

“It’s not what I expected at all,” Grove stated in the release. “But honestly, in ways it’s better. We’re talking to people, meeting people, getting to meet other students and engage in conversation — it’s nice.”