CLINTON, CT. (WFSB) – While we’re still enjoying summer break, lots of kids will be back to school before we know it.
And in Clinton, a graduating senior launched a new program, to make sure 5th graders going to a new school are ready for that first day.
“It’s called husky training camp.”
Because the Jared Eliot Middle School is the home of the huskies and this camp solves a problem that Isabella Johnson saw first hand: 5th graders entering a new school…with those first day jitters.
“It’s great to reduce their stress levels. It’s come in lieu of 10-30 minute tour they used to do here right before the school year,” said Isabella Johnson of Clinton.
Johnson teamed up with school staff to create an orientation for them, so they hit the ground running.
“It was really a passion project that came to be,” principal Kristin Lalima said.
“They come in in the morning and then their parents sit at tables, get to know some of the students, we do a little presentation for them in the morning,” Johnson said. “We talk about drop-off everything they need to know.”
“When kids come into 5th grade, it’s a scary time. It’s a 5th through 8th grade building and giving them time in the building just alone and being able to be with some of our student leaders would be a great way to get them welcomed into the building,” Lalima said.
Johnson’s bright idea and drive earned her the gold award, the highest award in girl scouts.
As she gets ready to go off to college – her sister will now take the reigns running the husky training camp – and helping hundreds of students.
“A lot of the students have told me it helps a lot,” Johnson said. “It came a lot from parents, I’ve seen parents out and about parents say oh you did this program, my child feels so much better. And they have a lot more peace of mind knowing their student already knows what theyre supposed to be doing. It has helped a lot with that stress and even some of the teachers have said that.”
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