On Tuesday, September 6, as per tradition, freshmen started their four-year high school journey a day earlier than the rest of the student body. Students were greeted by sophomore, junior, and senior Big Buddies at the bus drop-off area, the car drop-off area, in front of the Performing Arts Center, and other locations scattered throughout the first floor. Freshmen Catin Moreira, a member of the girls soccer team, said that the Big Buddies “showing me the sports locker room in the morning” was very helpful to her.

The freshmen gathered in the Performing Arts Center, where Principal Lanczycki gave his opening remarks. They were then assigned to homerooms based on alphabetical order. Students, Big Buddies, and teachers migrated to the freshmen homerooms on the third floor and Big Buddies helped students with their schedules.  Freshman Karoline Gajewski said that she found “the morning in homeroom with the schedules” the most helpful part of the first day. Groups of Big Buddies and teacher assistants led students on building tours that highlighted the Main Office, the Attendance Office, the TV Studio, the Engineering Design and Robotics Hallway, Band and Chorus rooms, Health rooms, the Student Dining Center, the Library, the Gym and Fitness room, the Indoor Track, the Courtyard, the Art Gallery and Hallway, the Distance Learning Center, the Special Education Suite, and the Department Collaborative Areas. While on the tour, students were able to open their lockers for the first time and see which classrooms they would visit later in the day.

After building tours were finished, students returned to their homerooms and prepared to journey to their first class. Big Buddies led groups of students to their classes, trying their best to make sure that those that were lost had help. Freshman Amber Holt said that the most helpful part of the day was when the Big Buddies “showed us where our classes were.” Students followed their A Day schedule but went through CPR training in the Performing Arts Center before or after their lunch block.

Fiona Lyons, a freshman, said that her biggest fear going into high school was “getting lost.” However, after Big Buddies helped students to their classes, that fear was mostly resolved. Freshmen Isabel Charest was most fearful of “the upperclassmen” because they might “tease some kids.” After the first day, Isabel was not afraid of the upperclassmen anymore. Freshman Brielle Tripp was worried about “the workload” because she takes “AP U.S. History and pre-AP English.” After seeing her classes, she is “not worried about pre-AP English as much.”

When asked what her favorite part of the school was, freshman Rachel Ochoa said “the turf” because she gets to “play soccer on it.” Kylie Powers, a freshman from Berkley is most excited to “meet new friends from Somerset” while freshman Maddy Fiola is most excited about “Case Rally” because she has “heard it’s fun.” High school is full of opportunities, and most freshmen this year are excited to see what their time at Somerset-Berkley holds.