Revisit Day
by Olivia Sun ‘29
The hallways feel a little different on revisit days. There is more energy, more smiles, and a noticeable effort from both students and teachers. For incoming students, it’s meant to be a glimpse of high school life. In many ways, it does just that perfectly. But it doesn’t always tell the full story.
Revisit day is set up to be a positive experience. It gives prospective students a chance to explore the buildings, meet teachers, and envision themselves as active parts of the community. For the students who feel the expected nervousness, it’s an opportunity to learn what type of community they are going into, making good first impressions crucial. This past revisit day for the St. Marks community was a chance to show off our best and to embody what our school stands for. From small details like welcoming smiles, warm greetings, and even being in dress code, we showed the potential members of our community the potential life they can have on campus. In that sense, revisit day does exactly what it’s supposed to do: it makes people feel comfortable and included.
Students play a huge role in this. Whether they are officially hosting incoming students or just sitting in class next to a visitor, many make an effort to be friendly and inclusive. They answer questions, share their own experiences, and try to make themselves comfortable on what is a rather overwhelming day. For someone coming from a smaller or completely different school, these interactions are their first connections to the community, a warm and inviting environment allows them to feel at home in a new location.
Clubs, Sports teams, and student groups also contribute to the day by showcasing what life outside the classroom looks like. Tables, posters, and quick conversations give incoming parents and students a chance to see the opportunities available to them. This is valuable because high school isn’t just about academics, it’s about expanding your interests and building connections. Seeing the variety of cavities helps students feel excited about joining a new community.
Teachers also adjust their classes in ways that benefit visitors. They often choose lessons that are engaging and interactive, which helps students feel involved in the conversation instead of just observing. These refined lessons reflect the effort teachers put into creating a positive learning environment. This is a first look into what high school classes can feel like. For students it allows them to transition from a lecture based middle school format of class to a student lead discussion. For parents, it’s a chance to ease their anxiety of whether the quality of their kid’s education, seeing them integrate into the class settles their worries about whether they might integrate into a new school and a welcoming classroom can leave a lasting impression.
Revisit day highlights something important; a school is more than just a building or schedule, it's a community. The collective effort from students, teachers and staff show how much we care about building a warm and inviting environment. This day captures what is truly important in our community, the willingness to be welcoming to upcoming students.
