By MADDY VITALE
Every year, Ocean City’s school district seems to try different ways to quell the freshman jitters and to also help incoming students forge new friendships and get a little guidance from upperclassmen.
Morning and afternoon sessions Friday gave new high school students the opportunity to participate in some of the 26 games offered at Carey Stadium and the auxiliary gym at the high school.
The “Freshman Teambuilding Day” games are designed to be interactive with other students.
The day combines friendship, problem solving, academics, entertainment, pop culture, athletics and social consciousness.
There was the “Sling Shot,” in which students would sling fluffy balls and the students at the opposite end held up laundry baskets to do their best to catch them.
There was also the “Catch Zone” obstacle course, scooter games, paddle board dancing and basketball.
High School teachers Nicole McMaster and Chris Clark organize the event. They began planning in May.
“This is for teambuilding and it is a way for the students to get to know each other. Every year the kids make friends because of the event,” McMaster noted.
She said the team building exercises help the new high schoolers into making connections with other students and easing the transition from intermediate school to high school.
McMaster added that it takes a lot of hard work and dedication by not just her and Clark, but the upperclassmen chosen to mentor the freshmen and the teachers who volunteer their time.
Jenna Clark, 17, a senior from Upper Township, and a group of other student mentors gave some advice to students who were collaborating on one game.
Jenna, whose father is the co-chair of the event, Chris Clark, said there is a lot more to it than merely a fun day.
“Honestly, the big thing about high school is finding new friends and today is about working together, making friends and meeting upperclassmen,” she said.
Members of the Ocean City Police and Fire Departments were on hand. Among other activities, students got to check out a police vehicle.
They also got to drive around cones wearing goggles that would designate if they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Aiden Endicott, 14, of Upper Township, got “pulled over” by senior David Simpson, who pretended to be a police officer catching a driver under the influence.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Aiden said of the day.
Upperclassmen were chosen by teachers to spend the day mentoring the students. There were also 34 teachers who volunteered their time for the event.
David Simpson said he loved that he was chosen to mentor the freshmen.
“It’s really a lot of fun. I like it a lot,” he said of working in the police activity. “I’m telling the freshmen not to drink and drive.”
The Fire Department gave demonstrations of rescues to the excitement of some of the student spectators.
Community Policing Officer Jen Elias said, “It is amazing how they all come together. It is really nice to see the seniors helping the freshmen.”
Grace Oves, 14, of Ocean City, and her friend, Taylor Pontari, 14, enjoyed dancing in the gym during the morning session.
The two freshmen posed for a photo next to the “Kind” poster.
“It’s fun,” Grace said of the teambuilding event. “I love to dance.”
Grace and Taylor said they are very excited about being in high school for the first year.
