Central High orients freshmen and parents for start of school

~ Lengthy program gives students more time to find their way around.

Cape Girardeau Central High School's incoming freshmen picked up their textbooks and got acquainted with everything from their class schedules to their lockers and cafeteria food during an all-day orientation Friday.

Most of the students were accompanied by their parents who dutifully wrote checks to pay for everything from yearbook pictures to lunch money.

In all, about 600 parents and students crowded hallways and classrooms to get a first-hand look at the school and fill out the necessary paperwork.

This was the second consecutive year for the all-day orientation. High school principal Dr. Mike Cowan said the lengthy orientation gives students more time to find their way around the school and check out their lockers and classrooms.

"The advantage is they have spent an entire day here," he said. That should make it easier for freshmen on the first day of classes, he said.

Intimidating cafeteria

Cowan said students also benefited from getting to eat lunch in the school cafeteria.

During the school year, as many as 350 students eat lunch in a single shift. The school has four lunch shifts.

"When they first go in, I think it is a little intimidating," he said

Cowan said all-day orientation made for an easier first day for incoming students last fall. He expects the same result this year.

"What we are wanting to do is create a greater sense of comfort on the first day," said Cowan as he and school staff readied for the start of a student assembly in the gym to culminate the daylong orientation.

"For many of these kids it is the first time they have been in the building," he said.

Students welcomed the chance to find their classrooms in advance of the school year which starts Aug. 14.

"I think it is a pretty good idea," said Lindsay Jansen as she surveyed booths promoting various student organizations.

Fellow student and friend Hannah Hamilton said, "It shows us where everything's at."

Freshman Dre Johnson wants to play high school football. But he also wants to know his way around the school. "You don't want to be so lost," he said.

High school staff spent time educating students and parents about school rules -- everything from attendance policy to dress code.

Shirts and tops should be tucked in. Spaghetti straps aren't allowed. Central bars students from wearing any clothing that represents alcohol, tobacco, drug use, sexual issues, violence or profanity.

Bandanas are banned because they are associated with gangs, school officials said.

Dress code, jewelry

At an assembly attended by both students and parents, upperclassmen humorously modeled appropriate and inappropriate fashions to explain the dress code.

The high school also has rules when it comes to body piercings. All body jewelry and piercings should be flush to the body. No hoops are allowed other than on pierced ears. School policy prohibits piercings in and around the mouth.

"I agree with all of that," parent Melinda Maxwell said. "They are just kids."

Some parents privately complained that the orientation sessions were too long and that a lot of time was wasted standing in line and moving from one orientation station to the next.

"You have some parents who are just not into it," said Maxwell. But she personally had no complaints. She welcomed the chance to get acquainted with the school.

During orientation, parents were informed about e-mailing teachers (encouraged) and what time school starts (7:40 a.m.)

School officials said they will confiscate students' beepers, pagers and cell phones if they see them or hear them during school hours.

"We take school very seriously at Cape Central," Cowan told freshmen as they sat on bleachers in the gym.

"The success of your academic journey lies in your hands," he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123