Transferring to a new school can be a harrowing experience for students.

One Cherokee County School District school has started an initiative to make its new students feel at home.

Carmel Elementary School in Woodstock created the Carmel Welcome Program this school year.

Counselor Elizabeth Ray said she thought of the idea and shared it with Principal Dr. Sharron Hunt.

"We did it when I was in Kentucky," Mrs. Ray said. "It worked really well."

Dr. Hunt, who also is new to Carmel this year, said she was impressed with the idea. With the regular influx of new students at Carmel, Dr. Hunt said she knew there should be a way to make the new students feel welcomed.

Each new student who enrolls in Carmel is greeted with a welcome bag that's filled with coupons students can redeem on exploratory trips around the school.

New students also receive a Carmel pencil from the front office staff, a Carmel eraser from art teachers, a Carmel magnet from counselors, a kazoo from music teachers, bookmarks from the library, Band-Aids from the nurses, scooter rides from physical education classes, ice cream from the cafeteria staff, handshakes from custodians and an invitation to a monthly pizza lunch with the principal or assistant principals.

So far, about 114 new students have enrolled at Carmel since the second week of school, according to Dr. Hunt.

Student ambassadors, made up of fifth- and sixth-graders hand picked by their teachers, make the welcome bags and show new students around the school.

"They act as peers and mentors to the new students," Mrs. Ray said.

Dr. Hunt said the reaction from parents of new students has been positive.

"Parents are calling me and thanking me for doing this," she said. "We know that if interaction with parents and students is positive, then that increases student success in the classroom."

Dr. Hunt said she hopes to see if the program will have any long-term positive effect on student academic success at Carmel.

Teachers also have expressed their enthusiasm with the program, Dr. Hunt said.

Counselors and student ambassadors will watch the program to see if any aspects need to be tweaked or if any new components should be added, Dr. Hunt said.

Some student ambassadors also are touting the program's success.

Sixth-grader Rachel Aszman said the program is a great idea because new students get to meet the staff and new teachers.

"They also get to meet all the students and make new friends," the 11-year-old daughter of Jim and Lori Aszman of Woodstock said. "The school is well-run and our staff is very nice."

Sixth-grader Bridgette Hudak, 11, said the program is a great way for new students to make friends and not feel left out.

The daughter of Joseph and Lynn Hudak of Woodstock, Bridgette said she likes helping kids feel comfortable because "Carmel is a great school."

Some of Carmel's newest students said the program helped them feel welcome.

Fourth-grader Shelby Purl, 10, daughter of Jamie and Robin Purl of southwest Cherokee, moved to Cherokee from Lake Mary, Fla. She said she liked the program because she was able "to see her environment and know who was there."

Sixth-grader Catherine Musa, the 11-year-old daughter of William and Jacobine Musa of Woodstock, said she was "so happy" when she received a Carmel bag.

"I was happy to see the smiling faces at Carmel," the Cameroon native said. "I was very excited and wanted to come to school."

kdixon@cherokeetribune.com

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