As the class of 2024 prepares to make the leap into high school, Liberty has provided a way to make that bound a little bit smaller.

In years past, parents were invited to come to the school for an informational presentation about what the school has to offer. But for the incoming class, Liberty administration decided to emphasize and reach out to 8th graders about what makes high school fun; getting involved.

“Our hope is every freshman finds their path. If it’s going to one club or joining ten we want them to find their passion and make school a more enjoyable experience,” assistant principal Dr. Kiely said. 45 tables were set up, advertising different clubs, classes and activities students can partake in. While the students were able to chat with high school students and teachers, they had a passport for which they would receive a stamp on from each table. 

One of the clubs represented was HOSA Future Health Professionals, which provided a unique experience from the other tables. Students were able to witness the dissection of a sheep’s heart and brain on table, which by no surprise, drew a lot of attention.

“Kids and parents seemed very interested in what we had on the table, the dissections seemed to catch a lot of eyes even from afar,” HOSA president senior Audrey Chambers said. As students approached the table, Chambers and the other representatives of HOSA were able to explain what HOSA did and how it might appeal to eighth-graders as a potential extracurricular.

“It felt very exciting to be able to encourage the future generation of Liberty and hopefully get them really involved with all that Liberty has to offer, especially to be a part of such an amazing community and family that we create here,” Chambers said. 

With this in mind, the eighth-grade night was met with great success, with about 700 attendees. With representatives from each organization, students and teachers got to spread their passions with the younger generation, establishing a connection that can only benefit their transition into high school. No matter what a student is interested in, the event was able to show that there was a group for them to find a place of belonging in.

“This gave them an opportunity to see the various ways they can get involved with their new school,” Dr. Kiely said. “We were very pleased with the turnout because we had not asked students to attend before. We weren’t exactly sure what to expect.”

In the future, the administration plans to continue hosting an Eighth Grade Night event each January, in the hopes of making each student excited about the endless opportunities that high school can provide.