Prospective Apaches Spring Into Spring Preview at Arcadia High
By AUSD Digital Communications Intern Brandon Chen
Arcadia High student clubs and organizations are on the ready to share information about their groups.
Arcadia High School recently held its annual Spring Preview for incoming freshmen and other potential students to learn about the campus and its student life, including the plethora of clubs, academic teams, athletic teams, performing arts groups, and student organizations that Arcadia High students have access to. Held on April 12 this year, Spring Preview is, as its name reveals, a springtime tradition for students and their families to preview what Arcadia High has to offer. At this large event, nearly 1,000 prospective Apaches, their parents, and community members were in attendance for this Arcadia High showcase.
“Spring Preview allows incoming 9th grade students and their parents to get a glimpse of Arcadia High School and all the ways that they can get involved and make the most of their high school experience,” explained Arcadia High counselor Winnie Chin.
“Students and parents can hear information from different academic departments, tour the campus, and attend a fair filled with performances from various groups as well as booths set up by all of the different teams and clubs available.”
Soon-to-be Arcadia High students have the opportunity to view all of the different ways that can get involved and make friends on campus.
The tours, held by Seniors of Merit at Work and Link Crew, help incoming freshmen and their parents to familiarize themselves with the campus and different departments.
“If they are particularly nervous about high school, taking the campus tour and becoming more familiar with the high school may help them feel more comfortable,” Chin added.
Spring Preview attendee and incoming freshman Rishith Bandi shared, “The Apache News studio was really cool with amazing technology that we don’t have in middle school.”
Arcadia High Principal Dr. Brent Forsee explained that one of the main objectives for Spring Preview is to highlight the resources and opportunities available at Arcadia High to help incoming freshmen feel enthusiastic about the years to come.
“The feedback that we’ve gotten for the past few years is that it’s very beneficial for middle school parents and students to get a taste of what becoming a part of the Apache family is like,” shared Dr. Forsee.
“They get a piece of the academics, the activities, the athletics, and the arts. An additional benefit is that our high school kids and staff have really embraced it, too, and it’s almost become like an open house and a Spring Preview all in one.”
Set up throughout the Arcadia High Rally Court, which is an outdoor area located in the center of the campus, was a sea of booths advertising various clubs, teams, and groups to students and parents. This year, some groups attending Spring Preview were various Arcadia High clubs, such as Kare4Kids and Leo Club, academic teams, such as Quiz Bowl, Science Olympiad, and Physics Team, athletic teams, such as the Water Polo, Volleyball, and Basketball, and even organizations like The Arcadia Quill and Arcadia Unified’s Digital Communications Internship program.
Booths at Arcadia High's Spring Preview run the gamut of arts, performing arts, athletics, academics, and more.
According to Chin, the goal of these booths is to enable incoming freshmen to learn more about the specifics of a school department, athletic team, academic group, and/or club and have their questions about these opportunities answered in real-time.
Each group was free to decide what they wanted to display at their booths, and many displayed their groups on a trifold board or poster, which typically included photos of the work they do, meetings they have, and descriptions of their various activities. Most clubs and organizations also handed out pamphlets and incentives for signing up to be sent information about their group, playing the game they have set up, or participating in the activity their group has to offer at their booth. For example, USA Biology Olympiad was handing out packs of M&M’s to students who could correctly answer a biology question.
Various performing arts groups also had the chance to show off their skills to students and parents. Arcadia Percussion’s A-Line performed its show, “Alloy,” for the whole Rally Court, drawing a crowd around the stage.
Ultimately, Spring Preview allows incoming freshmen to have the chance to explore their interests and find groups that will enable them to learn and grow in the areas and fields they are passionate about. Incoming freshman Luke Feng reflected on the event, “Spring Preview was very beneficial for me as it allowed me to see what high school has to offer.”
“For students who weren't exactly sure about the classes they wanted to take during their freshman year, coming to Spring Preview may help them with their course selection. Incoming 9th graders were given a presentation on course selection in March, but in the following weeks, counselors will visit each middle school and meeting with each individual student to help them select their courses,” said Chin.
More information about Arcadia High School is available at ahs.ausd.net and for enrollment and programming information for the Arcadia Unified School District, visit www.ausd.net.