Written by Helena McSherry, Member, Board of Directors, The Bronxville School Foundation

Feb. 4, 2015: Bronxville High School's freshman class has enjoyed the most comprehensive freshman transition program yet. It was planned and executed by the high school guidance office, led by its director, Anne Abbatecola.

A new addition to the program, and one of the highlights for the freshmen, was a daylong trip in September to the Sharpe Reservation, where they participated in outdoor activities designed to build community and promote class involvement throughout their time in high school.

The trip was funded by The Bronxville School Foundation in response to a grant submitted by Ms. Abbatecola and the high school principal, Ann Meyer.

The transition program began for the class when the students were in eighth grade. It started with a series of orientation sessions led by school counselors and high school student leaders to get the eighth-graders comfortable with the idea of becoming high school students and to encourage them to think about what they might want to accomplish during their high school years. Ms. Abbatecola reported, "I was pleasantly surprised by the number and enthusiasm of high school seniors who applied to be transition leaders. We selected forty-eight, in all."

On the first two days of school, the freshman class was given a more detailed orientation that included student-led tours and debriefings. During the second week of school, the entire freshman class, along with the senior transition leaders and twelve faculty members, including all the guidance office counselors and principal Ms. Meyer, headed to the Sharpe Reservation in Fishkill, New York, for a day of mental and physical challenges designed to foster team building.

One activity (pictured above) required small groups of freshmen to build a vehicle, using only materials provided, that they then raced using their own manpower. They also developed and presented a marketing plan for their vehicles. Additionally, students competed in an obstacle course in which each obstacle required innovative thinking and collaboration within each of the small groups. The groups also shared a barbeque lunch together.

Freshman Harry Colvin reported that "my favorite activity was doing the obstacle course, in particular, when we had to get our whole team through a hanging tire. I bonded with my classmates and the freshman transition leaders." Funding for next year's freshman trip to the Sharpe Reservation is expected to be included in the school budget.

The freshman transition program continued throughout the fall and into February, with regular meetings between small groups of freshmen and two senior leaders per group. Every three weeks, the groups met to discuss topics including personal responsibility, mutual respect, goals, role models, and tips for both social and academic success. In addition, history teacher Bill Meyer made a presentation on study skills that was so well received that the administration asked him to offer the seminar to upperclassmen, as well. Several more meetings on topics relevant to the freshman class are planned for the spring.

Pictured here (L to R): Guy McKhann, Morgan Taylor, Alexis Petnuch, Zandro Salomone, Devin Portner (in car), Nan Carpenter, Ned McCann, George Daskalakis, Dylan James, Harry Colvin (in car), and Griffin Garbarini.

Photo by Ann Meyer