On Friday, September 25th, Hart High School’s freshmen class gathered in the gymnasium for Freshman Focus, spending the morning competing, cheering, and working together in team activities. The freshmen were divided into three groups based on the first letter of their last names, creating a Blue team, Green team, and Red team. Students were encouraged to wear their team’s color as they competed throughout the event, which included different activities throughout the day, such as dodgeball and a team cheer competition. During the cheer competition, each team had to make as much noise as possible, bringing plenty of energy to the gym and competitive spirits. The activities gave freshmen an opportunity to have fun and work together with their classmates. For some students, the experience was especially memorable. Ava Zost, a freshman, said, “I came, I saw, I conquered,” in the aftermath of the event. Other freshmen also had positive reactions to the event. Freshman Elin Walker described Freshman Focus as, “The best thing I ever experienced,” while Peyton Erickson gave the event a simple rating: “10/10, no notes.”

The competition also gave students a chance to work together toward a common goal as they participated in a friendly competition with the other groups. After the activities were completed, it was revealed that the Red team had come out victorious! “I think our team worked really well together, and worked very hard for our win,” said freshmen Jayda Schmieding, a member of the Red team. But freshmen were not the only ones involved in this iconic event. Senior class members also helped mentor the freshmen and take part in the activities and games. Madelon Munoz, a senior who helped mentor during Freshman Focus, remembered participating in the event herself as a freshmen. “I liked mentoring Freshmen Focus as it brought back good memories from my own experience at Freshman Focus, and I got to watch them have the same fun opportunities I did.” With games, teamwork, and plenty of cheering, Freshmen Focus gave Hart High School’s newest students a chance to spend time together, build memories, make new friends, and start their high school experience with a day focused on having fun and building connections.