On Friday February 7th, 615 Irving students streamed into WS for Irving Invasion… or Future Spartan Orientation…?
Despite the politically correct name change, this year’s Irving Invasion was very similar to those from years past. There were tours, presentations of electives and clubs, as well as a performance by the famous WS Dance Team.
A group of over 600 middle-school students invading the halls of WS undoubtedly poses some problems for the administrators and leadership students who run the event. The aux gym was loud and crowded, and leadership students had a hard time keeping their groups of 8th graders together and trying to get to every table in the gyms.
“The hardest part for my leadership kids is that they [the 8th graders] didn’t load up at the same time,” said Betsy Fawsett, leadership teacher and event organizer, “so some tours were 30 minutes while others were 10.”
The current WS students also provided some issues for the organizers of the event.
“It’s also hard to keep the WS kids who aren’t involved out, particularly the 9th graders who want to see their friends,” said Fawsett.
Despite these challenges, leadership students and administrators performed under pressure and made the event a success. The culmination of all of their planning, hard work, and organization provided an enjoyable and beneficial day for the young 8th graders.
“It was a great experience to see everything I can do in high school, so many options!” said Sheesh Nabhan, an 8th grader who attended the event.
The event was a valuable experience for everyone involved. Through their involvement in the organization and execution of the event, WS students gained real-world training that they will carry with them to college and even future jobs. They also got a chance to convey some of the priceless wisdom they have gained from several years of roaming WS’s halls to the future Spartans.
“I liked having the opportunity to tell the kids about what I’ve experienced in high school and let them know what to expect which should help them with their freshman year,” said senior Nikhil Subhankar.