By Karen Pegueros
Every year the AP Academy formally accepts freshmen into the Academy. On Monday, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m., each freshman will walk on the theater stage and sign the AP Academy book.
“I’m really excited. I love being in the AP Academy so far, so being a member ‘officially’ will be really cool,” freshman Avery Farino, AP Academy member, said. “In a way, I really feel grown up and mature for being in this program but also a little nervous for the work that comes with the commitment.”
The ceremony starts off with an introductory speech by senior Runi Chakraborty, AP Executive Council member. Featured guests such as Mr. Piccinini, principal, Ms. Harper, assistant principal and head of the AP Academy, and select AP teachers will also give freshmen a warm welcome and advice for their high school careers.
“Find someone that will stick with you and help you because the transition to high school can be hard, and having someone you can count on is important,” Ms. Harper said.
After, Mr. Poleski, AP Human Geography teacher, will call students to the stage to shake Mr. Piccinini’s hand and sign-in. When the freshmen become seniors, they will sign out of the book. The tradition began four years ago when the academy was first launched.
“I think fundamentally it [signing out] is about leaving our legacy – our way of telling future classes that it is alright, you can get through these four years because we did,” AP Executive Council member Timothy Gutterman, senior, said. “It’s going to be a bit of a surreal experience because I can still remember the night I signed the book, and looking back, it doesn’t seem like it’s been very long, yet everyone is so different now – more grown up.”
