Each year, Sion welcomes a new class of freshmen with various school traditions. This new class begins the year with timeless classics such as the beanie ceremony, new orientation experiences, opportunities such as their trip to Wildwood Adventure Center and bonding events such as the Freshman retreat.
“I’ve had a lot of fun. I’ve met new people. Everyone I’ve met has been really nice,” freshman Hazel Mallory said. “Going into the retreat, we were with our peer ministry groups, and it was some girls that I have classes with, but I’ve never really talked to, and also getting to know the seniors in my group, which was really nice because both of them were really welcoming and they made it a lot of fun.”
Student orientation began with a pep rally featuring Sion’s dance and cheer teams, an introduction to the year’s themes, and a hula-hooping competition. Freshmen then had individual sessions for more information and went through their class schedules, spending 10 minutes in each class.
“It was very loud, but the cheers were cool, and I liked how it brought everyone together. It was a good way to start the week with lots of energy,” freshman Katie Bishop said. “I got lost a lot, but there were people that helped me understand it was cool”
On the second day of orientation, August 16, Freshmen ventured to Wildwood Outdoor Adventure Experience. At Wildwood, students participated in archery, canoeing and raft making.
“It was really fun,” freshman Lauren Augustin said, “it was really hot, but you got to know everyone.”
The following week on Thursday, August 22, freshmen were officially welcomed into the Sion community through the Beanie Ceremony. In Sion’s Beanie Ceremony, “beanies” or hats are placed on the heads of each freshman. The freshmen are then expected to wear the beanies in the halls for the next week to help students in other grades learn their names.
“My favorite was definitely the beanie ceremony,” Augustin said. “It was just a fun experience that every freshman gets to do, and it’s just nice to be part of a big thing that we do every year.”
The beanie ceremony also introduces freshmen to their Maison, a group of students across grades who meet every Thursday. The Maison seniors are the ones to construct and deliver the beanies.
“I think they did a good job of making everyone feel included,” freshman Maddie Bridges said, “and getting everyone to know the seniors as well as juniors and sophomores, and putting everyone in groups so no one felt left out or anything.”
The first week of school ended with ice cream handed out from the concession stand by the gym. Sion students of all grades were invited to grab a frozen treat after the conclusion of seventh hour on Friday.
“I liked the ice cream probably because it was very social,” freshman Anna Slattery said. “I liked how everyone was kind of grouped together and we could talk with people because I made new friends. So I was saying hi to them.”
Finally, on Tuesday, August 27, freshmen went to the Kansas City Zoo for their class retreat led by senior peer ministers. At the zoo, students explored the zoo in groups and participated in activities like a scavenger hunt.
“We had a scavenger hunt to look for certain animals and we got to see tigers and sea lions. We saw a sea lion show, which was a lot of fun,” freshman Ciel Magaña-Mora said. “Honestly, I think I’ve learned a lot more about animals than I ever have and we definitely bonded a lot with our seniors and all of our peers and classmates.”
