On the night of Jan. 23, there was a Welcome Night at Manitou Springs High School for potential future students to learn about the school through their students and staff. Upcoming students and their families had the opportunity to learn about academics, sports and activities at the high school.
Lucas Williams, an eighth grade student in Timberview Middle School, found out about this event from his father who teaches in the school.
“I love the atmosphere here. I love the small school. Like the feeling here,” Williams said. He is considering attending Manitou Springs High School next year.
He is also a football player, and the sports environment at the high school was also a point in his decision.
“I like the coaches. They’re pretty cool, and football is my main sport; and I like all the people surrounded with that sport,” he said.
Penny Gillis is an upcoming high school student and visited Welcome Night to see some different options with her mother. Though they are considering Coronado as their biggest possibility, they came to Welcome Night to check it out.
“I also have some friends that live in the area and have had their kids go and they really had a good experience,” Sarah Fricke, Gillis’ mother said.
The principal of MSHS, Anna Conrad provided an insight into the process of hosting Welcome Night.
“For the first half of the evening, incoming students and families were able to walk through the event as a fair,” she said. “For the second half of the evening, students and families either opted to join student-led tours (shout out to our StuCo tour guides: thank you) or a student panel (shout out to our student leaders who answered questions and shared their wide range of experience at MSHS: thank you).”
This Welcome Night, designed to build strong connections with the community, was advertised in many ways throughout the district and more.
“We advertised Welcome Night by sending it to all of our incoming 9th grade families as well as including it in our newsletter and on our social media. I also called all of our incoming 9th grade families to invite them, which was a blast! Furthermore, we sent mailers to many nearby communities and are continuing to host prospective students/families for tours throughout the spring!” Conrad said.
Though known, among other things, for its small number of members, Manitou Springs High School has been gaining students.
“We brought in one of our strongest 9th grade classes last year,” Conrad said. “Our best hope is to continue to bring in large 9th grade classes as well as retain our 10th-12th grade classes, supporting them through graduation.”
Welcome Night was a perfect opportunity to welcome more students in. It was also a chance for the already existing staff and students to connect with each other and future colleagues. Conrad appreciates the effort put into the event.
“I am so grateful for the hard work and dedication that our students, staff, coaches, and activity sponsors brought to this event–thank you all,” Conrad said.
