Newly Chromed students settle in

FALLS VILLAGE — The Housatonic Valley Regional High School Class of 2019 convened at the high school for the first time on Friday, Aug. 28, for orientation.

In the library, two lines were operating — one to pay the fee and another to receive the new Chromebook laptops each student will be issued this year. 

Other freshmen were setting up their school email accounts.

Matt Lopes and Sebastian Munoz Arango, both of Falls Village, watched as junior Katherine McGuire attached labels with Lopes’ name to the Chromebook. She grabbed a power cord, and handed it over.

“Thank you very much,” Lopes said politely.

Network Administrator Mike Ellington whizzed around, advising the students to add a character to a weak password here, or not to add any permanent marks to a Chromebook there.

McGuire was one of a group of about 25 student mentors. They all wore bright yellow T-shirts and milled around, answering questions and, occasionally, calming nerves.

Guidance Counselor Sharon Veatch said the numbers for the incoming class were a little higher than anticipated. She put out a call for more student volunteers, and the students responded admirably.

After everyone was sufficiently Chromebooked and reasonably oriented, the whole class moved out onto the grass oval in front of the school for a scavenger hunt.

This is an exercise in which the new students, from the six Region One towns, complete a questionnaire that asks them, for example, to find someone who went to a different elementary school or someone who likes fishing.

One girl’s voice rose over the hubbub. “I need someone born in another state. Anyone? Born in another state?” 

With the scavenger hunt complete, the group then formed a circle. The circle was a little lumpy, perhaps, but adequate.

Veatch thanked the students for coming to the orientation, and then, with the help of  students Liam Grimaldi and Ted Perotti, got the Class of 2019 to whoop it up a bit.

A minor stampede came next. It was time for lunch.