On Tuesday, February 20th, SHS Student Council hosted Ahlf Junior High’s 8th grade class to tour the high school. Dubbed “8th Grade Tours”, the idea is that a tour of the high school before the Class of 2028 starts the 9th grade in the fall would ease some of the fears that come with the transition from junior high to high school. The tour kicked off in Lion Arena, with students hearing from the SHS Student Body Officers, and a performance from the cheer and dance teams and the band. Some members of student councils were assigned a group to lead around the seventeen stops around the school. Other volunteers were stationed at the various departments, where they explained what their stop was and the significance of it. 

Student Council sponsor and history teacher Christine Edelmann explained the importance of hosting the rising ninth graders. “8th grade tours are designed to show 8th grade students what their options are at the high school and to build excitement for their first year at SHS,” said Edelmann. “Touring can also alleviate typical nervousness associated with the first day of 9th grade.” The 2024 8th Grade Tours marked the third year of the event at SHS. “Planning the tours has gotten easier each year, mainly because we use the same basic plan each year,” said Edelmann. 

Junior Andrea Gray participated in the 8th Grade Tours by being a stop on the tour. “I was a tour stop for the band room, orchestra room, choir room and the theater classroom. This was a great opportunity to expose the rising ninth graders to our fine arts programs,” said Gray. Gray herself is involved in some of the high school’s fine arts programs, so it was easy for her to talk about them to other students. “I enjoyed participating in the tours because I got to meet new students and talk to them about something I am passionate about,” said Gray. To Gray, the tours are not just to introduce students to campus. “The 8th grade tours are so beneficial because they help to break the stigma that high school is a big and scary place,” said Gray.

Though they were a relatively new annual event to SHS, the 8th-grade tours received positive feedback from junior high students and teachers. Not only did it give junior high students a chance to tour SHS, but it also provided them a chance to interact with encouraging and welcoming older students.