Oak Creek High School rolled out the royal blue carpet Tuesday to welcome the 503 students who make up the class of 2016.
For the first time ever, freshmen entered the school gymnasium flanked on both sides by Oak Creek teachers shouting, “Welcome!” and “Go Knights!” Students exchanged high fives with their new teachers as they strode in on the runner of royal blue.
Addressing the class, Principal Michael Read assured the newcomers, "All the people standing behind me will support you over the next four years." The students responded with enthusiastic applause.
The opening festivities included a video featuring upperclassmen encouraging their new classmates to do their best, to get involved in a sport or activity, and to make the most of their four years at OCHS. The closing frame of the video proclaimed, "We are glad you're here!"
The freshmen spent the rest of the morning getting to know one another, their mentors and their advisory teachers. They played a game to learn cafeteria etiquette and checked out lockers and classrooms before the sophomores, juniors and seniors joined them in the afternoon.
Freshman Josh Giovanini summed up the day: "I thought I would be anxious on my first day of school, but everyone at OCHS really helped me out, so I wasn’t scared at all."
