If there is one definitive thing to be said about the last school year, it is that staff missed their students. This new school year brings an even greater appreciation for togetherness, and Apollo High School assistant principals Justin Skaalerud and Laura Freese wanted to make it known just how excited they are to be back together again with students–one door knock at a time. Skaalerud and Freese, along with teachers and support staff, recently went door-to-door to welcome incoming freshmen to Apollo.
“It was a culmination of a few different things,” explains Skaalerud. “Last year, we did a couple of home visits while in distance learning to check in with students or deliver materials. With that concept, Laura, myself and our student support group started conversations about how cool it would be to go greet all of our freshmen with a positive welcome to Apollo … and really important information.”
The pair felt it was key to check families’ emergency contact information, talk to families about activities–whether it was a sport, group or club–and hand out health forms to return at the beginning of the school year. In fact, they signed many students up for activities on the spot.
“We also advertised to our freshmen that they’ll be able to pick up their devices … and get their school picture taken,” says Freese. “We had some parents stopping at the school to ask questions. So, it was nice to … have the educational benefits application and explain what it was and that they could sign up all their students on one application. When we did the home visits, we had language support in addition to student support.”
Families were pleasantly surprised.
“Oh, wow!” shared one family. “This has never been done before. We have the assistant principal showing up at our door to say welcome to Apollo.'”
Freese says, “I think it was a great way to connect with families, continue to build that community and show our support – that we’re willing to come out to their home as much as we want them to come into our building.”
Freshman year is unique, and the home visits have given students an opportunity to learn some familiar faces when they start at a new school.
“We had a team of 12 people making the visits over a span of five days,” explains Skaalerud. “The stories were all very similar. Every visit was positive. Families were excited.”
Over the five days, Apollo staff were able to connect with 80 percent of the 400 families at a home visit. If a family wasn’t home, a “Sorry we missed you” note was left with the packet of information, and those families then received follow-up phone calls.
Freese says, “Coming off the last couple of years of isolation, I think it was a way to show families we are ready and excited for students to come back to Apollo.”
“Everyone involved felt this was a success,” smiles Skaalerud. “Keeping the lines of communication open are crucial. We’ll continue to do this in the future. It was an investment … but well worth it to give our families that sense of comfort and know that they are coming into a very caring school environment where there are people here to support.”
A simple knock has opened the doors of communication, familiarity, sense of belonging, security and support. Apollo staff can’t wait to say hello to the new incoming freshman class inside Apollo’s doors!
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