The students are participating in "Spring Fling," a three-day transition event designed to help incoming ninth graders become familiar with the campus, staff and their future classmates.
About 15 eighth graders from each of the six elementary schools that feed into Reedley High School attended the event.
Transition Director Myles Bacon greeted students as they arrived at the gym early Tuesday morning.
"They get to meet students that they haven't met. They get to learn some things together, and they get to have an experience where they remember, 'Hey, this was maybe my first high school experience,'" Bacon said.
The morning began with games to help students get moving, followed by activities and questions aimed at helping them learn more about one another. Seated with a partner, eighth-grader Gael Estrella shared details about himself, including where he would like to travel and what superpower he wished he had.
Estrella said he was initially unsure about giving up part of his break, but was glad he decided to attend.
"I was thinking about not coming, but I couldn't. I couldn't say no to this opportunity. It was - I thought it was going to be fun, and it is. It's really exciting," he said.
With high school just around the corner, Estrella said he had been feeling nervous. After two days at Spring Fling, that anxiety has eased.
"I made a couple of friends, new friends," he said. "As it's getting closer, I'm starting to feel calm because I'm getting to know all these teachers at the high school, and I'm just excited to come."
Throughout the event, students also spent time in classrooms learning about advocating for themselves, the importance of attendance and how to make the most of their high school experience.
Bacon said the goal is for students to leave feeling confident and connected.
"Being able to advocate themselves, being comfortable with the adults that are on campus, feeling good about the environment there and that's what we want them to leave with," he said.
Students who attend all three days of Spring Fling will be rewarded with a trip to Disney California Adventure on Thursday.
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