Transitioning from middle to high school consists of high levels of excitement and anticipation for a new chapter of a student’s life. In eighth grade, students are typically visited by various high schools to recruit incoming freshmen. At Miami Palmetto Senior High, AP Human Geography teacher John Hayduk, AP Capstone Research and AP European History teacher Daniel Corradino and students part of the Student Council freshman recruitment board, all make this transition go as smoothly as possible.
The recruitment process involves visiting several middle schools and creating presentations focused on certain qualities of MPSH to showcase them to incoming freshmen.
“I oversee our whole recruitment branch and our liaison friends that kind of work with us on certain things. So, we run all the school tours for eighth graders and middle schoolers to come see MPSH. We make sure that they obviously have a good time when they come over,” senior and Student Council recruitment chair Savannah Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez accompanies Hayduk, to visit the middle schools and talk about MPSH and the experiences and magnets available.
“The [middle school] students are able to hear it from [MPSH] students themselves, so this really helps them. I had a parent at a school tour last week talking to me for literally 30 minutes because they really trust us, and we are not just an adult trying to sell it to them, as we are actually going through it, so they really value our opinion and what we have to say about [MPSH],” Rodriguez said.
While there is success with these school tours and events at middle schools, many students and teachers work behind the scenes to make sure the freshman recruitment process is efficient.
“We all talk together and kind of highlight different things and just make sure we are prepared for questions [incoming freshmen and parents] may ask us or whatever we are showcasing that day, whether it’s the magnets, sports or the diversity we have in the school,” Rodriguez said.
Not only is there communication between the recruitment team, but there is also needed communication between the current students and interested incoming freshmen. The recruitment team works diligently to ensure incoming freshmen enjoy their time to the fullest when visiting MPSH.
“We set up the inflatable panther entrance, and then when students get inside the auditorium, we [freshman recruitment chair] are all supposed to speak. We give our names, positions, how we are involved in the school, and what we like most about MPSH,” senior and recruitment committee member Adrian Prera said.
Student Council’s freshman recruitment chair is all about communication. These students have to come across professionally and maturely. They dress to impress and show up to really show off all that MPSH has to offer.
“We dress professionally and set a good example for what MPSH is and then we obviously highlight the main points that we want to express to incoming freshmen,” senior and recruitment committee member Jack Diemar said.
Diemar expressed that he and the freshman recruitment team want to truly get across the wonderful opportunities that come with joining the MPSH family.
“We really catch students’ attention by talking about the Capstone Program and the amazing teachers and classes MPSH has to offer, as well as extracurricular activities and clubs, MPSH really has something for everybody,” Diemar said.
