Poudre School District high schools welcomed incoming freshmen Aug. 16 during a special day designed to help new students make a smooth transition into high school.

Freshmen throughout the district met their teachers as well as selected sophomore, junior and senior volunteers who were on hand to answer the new student’s questions about lockers, classroom locations, and the other mysteries of high school. Each high school tailored a day to their unique site.

For example, Fossil Ridge High School held a freshmen “Lock-in” to help new students get off to a good start.

"Inspiration, motivation, and fun all made the first day perfect at Fossil Ridge High School,” freshman Morgan Hoog said. “I couldn't ask for a better way to start the year---any worries I had are gone and I am proud and ready to be a part of the Ridge Nation."

Fossil’s freshman orientation kicked off with a keynote address by motivational speaker Tyler Durman, author of Bite-Sized Wisdom for Parents. Ninth-grader Ava Norrigan said she was excited by Durman’s address.

“The speaker really inspired all of the students to make choices we would be proud of in the future, Norrigan said. “He explained that if you make the right choices you can have the future you want.”

Following the opening assembly, student leaders from FRHS National Honor Society, Student Council and Key Club welcomed the new freshmen, showed them where their classrooms were and answered questions about high school.

FRHS senior Nate Anderson said he thought his time was well spent.

“To me, the lock-in was a way for some of our Fossil’s upperclassmen to show that we're really excited to have the freshmen, and we want them to feel like Fossil is their home for the next four years,” Anderson said.

Helping students make successful transitions between schools is one of PSD’s four learning goals. The 2010-11 school year began for all students on Aug. 17.