August 2011 Chatterbox - Ruston High School - Lincoln Parish ...

A
cademia
Chatterbox
Ruston High School August 25, 2011 Page 5
Welcome Freshman!
by Polly-Michelle Gwan
Academics Reporter
Welcome freshman class of 2015!! This year starts the beginning of some of the best four years of someone‘s life. It will be fun, exciting, and full of valuable memories. But
remember, to be academically successful throughout this school year, and the ones to come, it will take lots of hard work, focus, and dedication. Have fun and make friends
while getting a great education. These four years will pass by quickly so make your high school career worthwhile with positive experiences.
Kick-Off Mentors!
by Polly-Michelle Gwan
Academics Reporter
On August 19, 2011, the KOMs, formally known as the Kick-Off Mentors, kicked of the 2011-2012 school year by attending the first day of school with the freshman class
in order to help them kick off the new school year just right! The KOMs spent two days during their summer break, May, 26, 2011 and August 18, 2011, preparing for this very
special day. They started off the day by welcoming the freshman as they entered the school and getting them situated into their homeroom classes. Next, the freshmen were
assembled in the auditorium and received many pep-speeches from: Nick Letendre, Student Council President; Mrs. Pruden, Freshman Academy Coordinator; Mrs. Ratcliff,
Freshman Counselor; Mrs. Thomason, KOM Director; and Mr. Milstead, Ruston High School principal. After the speeches, KOMs entertained the freshman with a dance they
practiced to get the freshman pumped and to loosen up any tensions the students had. ―The dance was very goofy,‖ said senior mentor Anna Scroggins, ―but it was very fun
because I think it showed the freshman that we‘re not to cool to care about them.‖ Afterwards the KOMs escorted the freshman to their various homeroom classes to have some
Bearcat Family bonding time. The KOMs and their ―mentees‖, nicknames for their freshman, had fun and participated in many games such as the hand-slap game and the high
school game as a way to get to know each other. The KOMs and their mentees also made name tags that helped them have a fun way to remember names and took the time to
answer various questions the freshman may have had about the school. The KOMs then were a big help as they helped freshman students find their ways to their classes, the
restrooms, and the cafeteria. At the end of the day, the KOMs helped pump the freshman up as some of them participated in the pep rally skit for the freshman and others
revved up the crowd. The KOMs made it an exciting first day for freshman as they followed the motto ―Failure is Not an Option for My Freshman‖ and strived to make the day
as wonderful as possible. The KOMs‘ year is full of many other exciting activities planned not just to help the freshman, but the whole Bearcat Nation, and to make this an
awesome 2011-2012 school year.
David Reed supports his freshman mentis
while they start off the school year!
KOM‘s entertain freshman students with a special dance on Freshman Day.