Multa Bene Facta, Tower Hill’s motto: many things done well, applies both on and off the field. We’re expected to participate in a sport each trimester, an unusual requirement in Delaware. For those who love and excel at sports, this is a great way to end each day. Additionally, those who struggle with athletic performance and might not have had a spot on a team at another school are equally integrated into the sports community. While most of the day is spent in the classroom, it’s the end of summer, afternoons and evenings, working as a team that cements friendships.
Ellie Heifetz, a freshman, described her field hockey experience as one that “allowed me to get to know a lot of upperclassmen, and I got closer with the new freshmen as well as those who were already at THS.” She spoke about the overnight team camp at UD as not only a “great preparation for the expectations of preseason but also an opportunity for the team to bond on and off the field.” When asked to describe her favorite tradition she talked about homecoming. “Driving around in our senior buddy cars that we decorated and blasting music was definitely the highlight of my freshman year so far.” Other ways the team bonded were the team breakfasts at Janssens or a teammate’s house that “are always a lot of fun.” She ended by sharing that each freshman gets paired with a senior buddy. Ellie and her buddy “brought each other candy for each game and supported each other on the field. When I needed a ride from team breakfasts, she was always there.”
Julianna Malick was my senior volleyball buddy. When I asked her how the buddies are selected, she revealed that “all the seniors get together and choose who they want to pair up with. You want someone who you can get along with. The whole point is to make the freshman comfortable when being on a team with older kids.” Seniors help make the freshman feel a part of THS “by being super outgoing and trying to make them feel as comfortable as possible. I love getting to know new people and the freshies are no exception. I made some amazing friends out of it.” Julianna talked about the team breakfasts as a great way to bond, but “I also love hanging with the freshies outside of school, getting Starbucks before games or going on drives and listening to music.” She reflected back to her own freshman year where the relationship was limited to candy exchanges before games and contrasted it to this year where instead it was “building friendships and allowing the team to grow super close throughout the season.”
Whether starting as a new student or as a rising freshman, joining a team is both exciting and intimidating. At Tower Hill, the traditions of freshmen/senior buddies, candy exchanges, team breakfasts, and homecoming car decorating all help foster team bonding, friendships and an easy transition into high school.
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