Dedicated ASB students and their hard working moderator, Mr. Ray Reyes, arrived on campus early Monday to have banners, balloons, name tags and welcome kits ready for the first students to arrive at 7:30 am. The week had been carefully planned by the ASB to follow a swift moving schedule so that all the students that came to visit each day, got a glimpse of what classes are like, and to get familiar with the layout and overall feeling of the campus.
This open house week has been key to the continued increasing enrollment at Aquinas, as it offers middle school students the opportunity to experience a day in the life of an Aquinas student, perhaps dismiss some of their fears and increase much of the excitement and enthusiasm for those years ahead.
“The Making the Most of High School program is integral to our success,” stated Principal Chris Barrows. “I believe it is one of the main reasons for our rise in enrollment over the past several years.”
Two to three schools arrived each day, which included, Sacred Heart Academy, Redlands, Sacred Heart, Rancho Cucamonga, St. Catherine of Sienna, Rialto, St. Joseph, Upland, St. George, Ontario, St. Margaret Mary, Chino, Our Lady of the Assumption, San Bernardino, Holy Rosary Academy, San Bernardino, Resurrection Academy, Fontana and a few students from Vision Middle School and Hardy Brown Charter School, both of San Bernardino.
The future freshmen were rotated through all the classes every four minutes, observing math classes, English, foreign languages, science and history classes. Extra time was given to introducing the campus ministry program and the counseling program designed to guide students right into the correct college bound path from the minute they arrive on campus as a freshman.
Various “ice breakers” were woven into each day, designed to get the eighth graders talking, mingling, questioning and even laughing. The drama presentations proved to be a big hit as students teamed up with seasoned seniors in various roles plays, allowing for colorful personalities to come out.
Likewise, the physical education activities allowed students to interact in games that encouraged team work and good communication, key themes of the athletic programs Aquinas.
As ASB student Teresa Roquet put it, “It gets them used to our campus and we even make some friends and they remember us when they come back.”
The parents, too, had their open house on Thursday evening where they received a full introduction to the campus programs and admission procedures.
As the week wrapped up on Friday the visiting eighth graders witnessed the sacred pep rally, firing the students up for the annual “Holy War” football game between Aquinas and Notre Dame, Riverside, a fun tradition of rivalry. They left with passes to the game, novelty gifts and, of course, an admissions application.