Good thing I did not have high expectations

This post is all about new student orientation at school this evening.

First, the disclaimer- based on many years of experience, I set my expectations low on how this was going to go.

Orientation: 5-7 ppm for all incoming freshmen and new students.
Packets given to us on Friday when we registered Mariposa for classes, detailing where to report for pictures and what order to do the process, and all other things.

1. We arrived at 5pm- parking lot is packed
2. we enter the school, they are handing out yellow forms at the door- I glance at one and realize that it is the same form from the packet we got last Friday_ i don't take one because there is no need to have 2 of the same forms.
3. I glance at the form I have, confirm that we need to be in the band room for pictures as Mariposa can not get her schedule until her picture is taken.
4. Go to the band room, see that the sign indicates that a completely different set of last names is to get pictures her. Mariposa mentions that the sign at the front door- that I did not look said her last name should be in the cafeteria. We head there- the opposite corner of the school.
5. The line for the cafeteria stretches from the cafeteria to the guidance offices- the other end of the hallway.
6. We get in line and wait for 20 minutes until we are almost in the cafeteria.
7. School staff come through the line announcing that one of the cameras in the cafeteria is down- there are only 2- and we can head to the Gym and get Mariposa's schedule without the photo being taken and then come back later for pictures.
8. We stay in line, so we can pick up the tag she needs to hand in for pictures as I am anticipating issues with the schedule.
9. We head to the Gym- as we have to pass it to get to back to the band room where they will now take pictures for anyone- irregardless of last names.
10. Schedules are being handed out by last names "A-K', "L-S", and "T-Z". A-k has a a short line, L-S had a line that wrapped around, T-Z had no line. Guess which line we have to stand in.
11. We get to the front of the line after another 20 minute wait. Mariposa's schedule is not in the stack, because she is not a freshman- we have to go to guidance office.
12. We head to the guidance office- they have to print her schedule because they don't have it already printed.
13. back to the gym so I can pay Mairposa's fees and so she can see the various clubs and organizations.
14. We preorder Mariposa's year book- no drama here.
15. we head to the fees line, We stand in the line only to find out that since she is not a freshman, we need to go into a different line (not by last names)
16. Pay fees and check out the drama club and the softball team- these are possibilities that Mariposa wants to consider.
17. Head to the band room for pictures, there is a small line, but it takes 20 minutes to get through the line.
18. head to the athletic office to pick up ticket for Mariposa for Friday's football game. I need to consider and confirm with Mariposa buying her student pass ($50.00 for the entire year for all home athletics events).
19. walk her class schedule for the first semester- she has a easy flow to classes, basically making a big circle through her day. She has four classes per day- we have block scheduling so four classes for 90 minutes, 5 days a week. Her classes change in second semester and she will have back and forth in that schedule, but at least for first semester, she has the luxury of having classes close together- less chance to get lost.
20. The final item- her last class of the day is Math- she has the same teacher all year- same room too. The room is PINK. And I mean all PINK, floor to ceiling, ugly as all get out. OMG- I cannot believe that the school district painted it that color- especially since color studies show this is one of the colors that triggers a little more anxious, aggressive behaviors. Nothing like putting hormone ridden teens in a room for 90 minutes with this color. I feel bad for Mariposa.


So overall- this was one of the worst run things I have gone to, Mariposa says that she never thought any school could be organized worst then her school in Germany, but she saw it today.

I cannot believe that a school that regularly has over 500 students at orientation would change room locations at the last minute, not have a process written for transfer students (not just exchange students) an not plan this to be over a few days. I also think that they needed to look at the distribution of the student last names and realize that the largest group of students was going be the "L-S" group. They could have easily broken the lines on different letters so that students and parents were distributed on more equal numbers.

Based on the form we got, I expected that we could complete everything in 1.5 hours max, including going to a 30 minute presentation on school athletics and clubs (which we skipped due to all the other delays). it took us the entire 2 hours to do the list above and there was so much wasted time as we stood in line.



After all this excitement, we drove over to get Bug and found no one home at my sister's house. we tried calling repeatedly (different numbers) but nothing. Called my parents to see if Bug was there- No and to get Jason's number. Mariposa had Jason's number and they had taken Bug to dinner- but I was kind of anxious and upset that he was not where I was expecting him to be. We joined Auntie Lulu and family for dinner and had a wonderful time talking and just enjoying being together. So the night ended well.

Tomorrow is a half day of work and then I am off for a day and half with the kiddos.

I am looking forward to some time with the kiddos just being a family and doing some things around town.

Love and hugs,
Deb