On Tuesday, August 27th, the Freshman and Senior classes joined together for the famous Big sister/Little sister Getty. This long-awaited event was hosted in the gym during focus and included many fun bonding activities for the two classes. The event was planned meticulously by the student council to ensure a perfect union of the grades. There were games, music, and cheering, but most importantly memories made that will last a lifetime.
“My favorite part of the Big sister, little sister Getty, was seeing the freshman start to experience one of the best parts of the sisterhood,” senior Andrea Portacarrero said.
Being a senior is a privilege, but also a big responsibility. Being a senior means not only being extra-spirited but also being a model for the other classes and making them feel welcome. Going into a new school, especially high school can be hard to navigate. This is why the tradition of Big sister/Little sister is so important. The bond between the two grades allows for some well-needed guidance for the new school year.
“I love having a big sister because I can talk to her if I’m ever confused about anything, no matter what,” Freshman Valentina Arca said.
In the get-together, the Seniors partnered with their Freshman little sisters to play three bond-building games. They played balloon relay, participated in the three-legged race, and played an extremely competitive game of musical chairs.
“My favorite game that I played was musical chairs because everyone got super into it, and the music made it so much fun,” Freshman Maia Suarez said.
Another aspect of the tradition is the Freshman Beanies. Seniors decorated the beanies in the senior lock-in and finally presented them to their little sisters before the Getty. The freshmen were encouraged to wear their beanies not only for the special event but for the whole span of the welcome week. The freshman wore their beanies with pride and loved the opportunity to take part in this long-awaited tradition.
“I wore my beanie as a freshman and I was really happy to see the freshman being excited to wear theirs, ” Senior Sofia Paz said. “It sort of seemed like a full circle moment for our senior class.”
With all the excitement of the new year, it’s important to commit quality time to new relationships. This get-together allowed seniors to remember when they were little sisters themselves, while also creating a new bond with their own little sister. The role change is a bittersweet realization but also marks the start of an exciting new journey. Whether that be through the unique OLLA games, the beanies, or the picture-perfect photo shoots, the Big Sister/Little sister tradition contributes greatly to an amazing and lifelong sisterhood.
“I think it’s important to know you’re not alone and this tradition allows the freshman to realize that there is always someone that has got your back,” Teacher Mrs. Diaz said. “They realize that the seniors have been in their shoes before and they now know what to look forward to, for their next 4 years, here at OLLA.”
