Junior Elizabeth Brock and sophomore James Benders, have fond memories of their first day as freshmen at Kenmore West High School.

Neither felt nervous, lost or unwelcome when they walked into the school for the first time.

They knew exactly where homeroom was, where their classes were throughout the building, and even remembered making friends from their freshman orientation.

A big reason for that feeling of comfort was the “Welcome Crew” at Kenmore West, a group of student volunteers who worked hard making the transition to high school an easy one.

“Being a freshman was great. I loved it. The first day was really easy because everyone was so nice, and students showed you where to go,” said Brock.

“I wasn’t nervous at all, thanks to the Welcome Crew,” added Benders.

Both students enjoyed the experience so much and were so thankful for the help from the “Welcome Crew” that they became two of the 60 volunteers this year who helped incoming freshmen feel welcome at this year’s orientation.

X “It feels great to be able to help out, to show students to their room, give them their schedule, and make them feel comfortable as a new Ken West student,” said Benders.

“I love helping everyone out. It’s great to help incoming students feel just as accepted and comfortable as I was when I was a freshman,” added Brock.

Approximately 407 incoming students were invited to participate in orientation at Kenmore West High School. Students were first greeted by “Welcome Crew” volunteers who couldn’t be missed in their bright neon green T- shirts.

New students were given schedules, escorted to their homerooms, shown exactly where their classes would be, and assigned lockers. The day ended with a picnic for incoming freshmen, ‘We lcome Crew’ volunteers and Kenmore West staff members.

Having volunteers from the Welcome Crew “sends a message to incoming students: that we appreciate you, we accept you, we want you here, and we want to make you feel a part of our Ken West family,” said Darcy France, the school’s Welcome Crew and Challenge Club adviser.

One aspect of freshman orientation that the staff most looks forward to is when students write a letter to themselves and are given the letter four years later when they are seniors.

“It is amazing to see the tremendous growth in the young men and women who come here as wide-eyed freshmen and who leave our Ken West community as adults who have the tools to succeed in college and beyond,” said France. “For now, we hope they feel welcome and not overwhelmed on their first day of school.”