Supporting Each Padre’s Transition to Serra High School
Making the transition from middle school to high school is an exciting time in a young man’s life. It’s a new beginning. An important step toward college and career. A reason to dream big.
It’s also a school year filled with lots of change, new friends, increasing responsibilities and expanded academic and extracurricular opportunities. It’s an entirely new school community for our newest Padres. We understand their excitement and anxiety.
That’s why we’ve created an integrated program, the Freshman Experience, which is designed to promote connectivity, engagement and support. Serra’s Freshman Experience team members—teachers, administrators, counselors, coaches and other key staff members—have their eyes and ears on our youngest Padres at all times. The team meets regularly throughout the school year to check in and share observations and ideas. Their mission: to help freshman students successfully navigate that critical first year of high school.
It all starts before the first day of school with a two-day orientation and retreat. Incoming freshmen have an opportunity to meet their new classmates, get connected to a Big Brother (our juniors take on this important role), learn about the history and culture of the school, and hear about the expectations and virtues that are foundational to the Serra brotherhood. Friendships begin to form before the first school bell rings.
Once school begins, there are important events and programs that continue to support the boys during this transitional year. It starts with their teachers. Freshman class teachers are assigned to freshman classes because of their keen interest in this age group and track records of success teaching at the freshman level. Freshman teachers quickly become mentors, building a rapport between incoming students and adults that is critical to school connectedness.
I have a Big Brother named Joey, and he has answered a lot of my questions. Our Big Brothers give us advice and talk to us about how we're doing. I have had a great freshman experience! I'm involved in crew and the AV Club, and I've made a ton of friends."
- jake lager '23
Programs and events that underpin the Freshman Experience:
Summer Technology Orientation
Incoming freshmen attend a two-hour technology orientation during the summer, which includes the critical topic of digital citizenship. In addition, they are required to independently complete a host of assignments designed to prepare them to use technology efficiently and responsibly when school begins.
Key aspects of digital citizenship:
Online safety and security
Privacy
Cyberbullying prevention
Respectful online behavior
Tri-School Social Events
Freshman year begins with a splash—literally! The Frosh Splash is the kick-off social event for Serra, Mercy and Notre Dame freshmen. It’s hosted by Serra at our beautiful Aquatics Center each August. Additional Tri-School events are held throughout the school year.
Freshman counselors are actively engaged with students and their parents in a number of ways to ensure they get off to a good start. Student meet individually with their counselor in the fall to ensure they're adjusting well. In the spring, parents are invited to join their son for a follow-up meeting with the counselor and begin early college planning.
Throughout the year, counselors also visit homerooms to provide guidance on:
Building a college resume using MaiaLearning
Developing academic self-awareness through a learning style inventory
Counselors serve as advocates and are always available to meet with students and parents as needed. In addition, they offer two optional freshman support groups each year, focused on:
Freshmen will keep in touch with their Big Brothers through homeroom advisories that are scheduled throughout the year. As trained student advisory leaders, Big Brothers facilitate discussions on practical matters such as how to use office hours effectively as well as on this year’s advisory theme, which is building the brotherhood.
Surveys that Keep a Finger on the Pulse of the Freshman Experience
Twice a year, the Freshman Experience Team surveys the freshman class to get firsthand feedback on how they are doing. This information helps the team assess the needs of the class as a whole as well as uncover any issues of concern that have been shared by individual students.
The surveys help identify students who may be:
Feeling stressed or anxious about academic expectations
Struggling to fit in socially
Hesitant to get involved in extracurricular activities (all freshmen are strongly encouraged to get involved in an extracurricular activity within the first six weeks of school)
With this information, counselors can reach out, offer support and help students:
Manage academic challenges
Explore activities, teams or groups to get connected
Build confidence and a stronger sense of belonging
