Freshmen Day Receives a New Coat of Paint

Travis States 
Staff Writer 
  Bonneville High School’s Freshmen Day has always been a bit tedious for most of the students and even the teachers. On previous Freshmen Days nothing really happens other than students receiving syllabi and listening to teachers explain rules and procedures. This year, Miss Martindale and Mrs. Ellis brought their concerns and complaints to Principal Jolley, and they were given permission to modify the routine of Freshmen Day. Following the final class period, students assembled on the football field for an outdoor celebration featuring hot dogs, games, and passport activities that rewarded participants with free shirts. When interviewed and asked why she wanted to change the routine, Ellis expressed that she, “hated Freshmen Day ever since [she] came here.” She then further elaborated by saying, “this is Freshmen Day, we should be doing something. They should be excited to be here, we should make them excited to be here.” Ellis then explained where the idea for the big lunch came from,“we’re trying to build community at Bonneville and give kids a chance to interact with each other.” When she was at Pocatello High School, Ellis mentions an “all-school lunch” that happened only twice a year. She and Jolley noticed the impact of school-wide activities at that time, leading them to bring the same culture to BHS. Alongside Ellis, Miss Martindale also found previous Freshmen Days to be lacking in excitement. Ultimately, she brought her concerns to Jolley, who said, "Then you are in charge of the next one." Martindale then explained, “I was the boss, and by the boss, I mean I was just bossy. When he told me I was in charge, I took that very literally.” When questioned about what the most difficult part of getting everything set up Miss Martindale stated, “Getting all of the teachers organized to do their job and clean up.” Although the 2025 Freshmen Day was much more student-centered than it had been in previous years, the BHS faculty plans to improve it in the coming years, including more student participation and interaction.