Cathedral Prep hosted its first 8th Grade Experience Day this year, giving middle school students a chance to see what high school life is like at Prep. The event invited entire 8th grade classes from local schools to spend most of the day at Prep. The goal was simple, to help students imagine themselves as future high school students and learn more about the opportunities available to them.

“The purpose of the event is to allow the students to experience what our school is like,” Vice President of Enrollment Management Nicole Washko said.  “And give them an idea of what it would be like to be in school here as a high schooler.”

During the visit, students took part in several activities that reflected a normal day at the school. They attended a science class, an art class, and a physical education class. They also experiencedMass and listened to a short talk about campus ministry from Father Ben. Students were able to experience lunch in the cafeteria as well, where they met members of student council and talked with current Prep students.

The idea for the event came from a similar program used at an international school in Beijing, China. Washko had worked there before and helped bring elementary students to the high school campus for a day. That experience inspired the creation of Prep’s version of the program.

Most of the planning for the event was handled by Enrollment ManagerLea Lanham, who organized the schedule and worked with teachers and coaches. She checked teachers’ schedules to find their available periods and used that information to plan activities. She also worked with school leaders and coaches who had busy schedules. Although sometimes last-minute changes had to be made when teachers were sick or plans shifted, staff members were always willing to help and adjust.

The program ran seven times so different schools could attend. Most of the days followed the same schedule, though some groups had slightly different activities depending on time and availability. Even with a few small changes, every group received a similar experience.

Students especially enjoyed the hands-on activities. One of the most popular was the art class where students made pinch pots with Mr. Vicary. The science class was also a favorite because students built small catapults and launched gummy bears across the room. The physical education class was another highlight for many students.

At the end of the day, students filled out surveys to share their thoughts. Many said they wished the day had been longer so they could try more activities. Because of this feedback, the organizers hope to expand the event next year and add more experiences for visiting students.

Overall the event was a success. Lanham and Washko said they were especially proud of how welcoming Prep students were to the visiting middle schoolers.

“The fact that our high school students are so polite and willing to open up the school and be nice to the middle schoolers is a really good reflection on the strength of our school.” Washko said.

Lanham and Washko believe the younger students will now feel comfortable and excited about the possibility of attending Prep in the future.