The 2024-2025 school year took off on August 13th, as all students returned back to campus for the start of another amazing school year.
Prior to this, the futuristic freshman had their freshman orientation facilitated by the student council. Here, they were introduced to focus, toured the halls, and had a chance to learn what part of what it means to be a true Lourdes girl. They also got to enjoy delicious pizza in the dining hall and end their day with the famous “Lourdes cookie”. Freshman orientation was a great way for new students to bond with their classmates and get familiar with their new home. “It felt weird at first being in a new school, but I really liked being able to meet and get to know so many new people and learn about Lourdes,” freshmen Kaitlyn Basto said.
On Wednesday, the rest of the upperclassmen returned to campus. All-school orientation began with each student going to every block for 10-minutes to meet their teachers. After this, the students participated in four different rotations: snack, the beloved Lourdes Lyrical loop, an exciting escape room, and class meetings.
“ I was so excited to be back at school and be able to see my friends,” junior Sofia Socarras said.
The lyrical loop is a fun activity where students have 20 minutes to work together as a class to produce a music video to a song. This event is a way to deepen student’s connections with their focuses and class. The videos air on OLLA TV once they are edited. This years’ song choices came straight from fan favorite movies.
“I think the lyrical loop was really fun yet challenging because we had so little time to choreograph a dance from the chunk of the song we were given,” sophomore Julia Lee, “I think it’s going to turn out great.”
The class meetings were a great way to reinforce expectations of being an excellent school student while still preparing everyone for a new, action-packed year ahead. The newly added escape room, created by the Executive Board, was a focus bonding activity that allowed students to work together in a productive and spirited fashion. The activity consisted of various puzzles that the focuses’ had to complete separately to then come together and create a code in order to successfully escape.
“ I really liked the escape room because by the end of it we were all laughing and having fun as one focus,” Freshman Bibi Retana said.
“I think it went very smoothly and the escape room was a fun and creative way to start the year,” said senior Andi Lavin, “It was very bitter sweet origami on knowing it’s the last time but savoring every moment.”
As the day came to a close, it was clear that both new and returning students were ready to blast off into an unforgettable school year. With strong bonds already forming and a shared sense of school spirit, the 2024-2025 year is bound to be one for the books.
