The Curriculum Night and Activities Fair for incoming freshmen, the Class of 2023, took place on Thursday, Jan. 10. There were tables set up for each major club, sport and academic department.

Incoming freshmen and their parents enter through the doors by the Welcome Center and take in the tables set up in the Commons. Each person entered with their own goals in mind. “I wanted to learn about classes and have an understanding about how high school will go,” Edward Yue, an eighth grader from Selvidge Middle School, said.

Amy Blumenfeld, Special Education Administrator, and Fran Kremer, counselor, give papers to the incoming freshmen as they enter the Theater. Curriculum Night started in the Theater with an informational meeting for the incoming freshmen and their parents.

Senior Josie Pagel, varsity cheer captain, waits to talk to people interested in cheer. Cheer was one of the many athletic groups and clubs set up in the Commons. In addition to answering questions, cheer had a second table set up as a fundraiser to help them raise money for Nationals.

Volunteers from the MPO work at a table set up in the Commons where they sell MHS spiritwear for the incoming freshmen. “I work in the school store on a twice-a month basis, and I like working with the merchandise, so I volunteered,” Janice Schuth, one of the women working the spiritwear table, said.

Members of Student Council (STUCO) and AFJROTC guide the incoming freshmen and their parents to where they need to go. Both clubs also had tables set up to explain the opportunities they have. Anna Culver, junior, encourages the incoming freshmen to join STUCO. “Student Council has taught me a lot about people skills and how to devote my time to helping others,” Culver said.

Incoming freshmen and parents talk to people working tables in the Large Gym. Many of the academic departments were set up in the Large Gym, including Business, Journalism, Mathematics and Language Arts, among others. Guidance and the Talented and Gifted Program were also set up in this gym.

The FACS table showcases projects from many of their different classes, including avant-garde designs from Fashions and a baby from Child Development. “For the Family and Consumer Science department, [Curriculum Night] is about promoting our program at the middle school level, and letting kids know that middle school FACS is not the same as high school FACS,” Leslie Tiemeyer, FACS teacher, said.

The guidance counselors answer questions at their table in the Large Gym. “The goal of Curriculum Night is to support our students and parents as they prepare for their next four years of high school,” Jeff Marx, counselor, said.

Hannah Nicholas, incoming freshman, enters the Small Gym. The remaining Academic Departments were set up in this Gym, along with the music groups. Nicholas said Curriculum Night was helpful. “I wanted to learn about the extracurricular activities,” Nicholas said. “It has also made me consider a lot of my classes, like Freshman Seminar. I think I’m definitely going to do that.”

The social studies table, set up in the Small Gym, displays textbooks from many of the history classes offered at MHS. Social studies teachers Jacob Stiglich and Scott Szevery advise students on which U.S. history class they should take, while McKenna Peters, social studies teacher, discusses electives. “Curriculum Night is about helping kids find the best fit for them,” Peters said.