O-Week Provides a Strong Start
With nearly one-fourth of the student body new to Principia School, a thorough, inclusive orientation process is essential to success. Over the last few years, faculty and staff have devoted considerable time and thought to designing orientation activities that promote both camaraderie and a commitment to learning and growth among students. Since its introduction to the Middle School three years ago, Orientation Week—or “O-Week” as it's come to be known—is now being implemented in varied forms for students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Get-to-know-you games, norms and standards-setting exercises, and initial class sessions have ensured that both returning and new students start the year from a common base of understanding. As Middle School Assistant Principal Sam Dry describes it, O-Week helps establish an environment where all students “feel safe, valued, and heard”—which contributes to a collective sense of ownership and responsibility for the learning process.
“Orientation Week has helped new students rapidly become part of the School community and understand how we operate,” notes Upper School Principal Christen Alford (C’88). And with the combination of House and Crew activities and classwork during O-Week, she notes, even continuing students say they feel better prepared for the year ahead. Alford adds that many students have expressed appreciation for the strong sense of unity among their peers.
This academic year, the Upper School has transitioned to a new block schedule, designed to better develop future-ready students who are innovators and deep thinkers. O-Week helped introduce the new system, which includes four 80-minute class periods per day to allow for extended exploration of subjects and time spent outdoors on place-based learning. These periods are strategically interspersed with shorter sessions for academic check-ins, House and Crew time, community meetings, and a couple of periods of “flex time” each week.
When it comes to developing School spirit and unity, House activities have been the perfect vehicle—starting with the House assignment “reveal,” where new students were enthusiastically welcomed to their Houses in the Upper and Middle School. This year, Houses were introduced in Lower School, too, with students grouped into one of 12 multi-grade Houses, each of which is mentored by an adult leader. During their time at each School level, the students continue as members of the same House, participating in friendly competitions, group activities, community service, and discussions.
Here are some examples of O-Week activities:
- During Color Day, Upper School students competed intensely in a variety of academic and outdoor sessions, attired in their House color t-shirts.
- Middle School also enjoyed House competitions and concluded their O-Week with a day trip to Johnson’s Shut-Ins.
- In Lower School, O-Week included a scavenger hunt, community outreach (making cards and cookies for service and facilities workers), and creating kites that illustrated the theme of Head of School Travis Brantingham’s opening chapel—gratitude.
Even though O-Week may be over, students can expect ongoing opportunities to continue strengthening teamwork and friendships through a range of project-based learning as well as House, Crew, and social activities throughout the year.