I thought it might be helpful to share the Parents’ Orientation schedule prior to August 25th. You will receive a hard copy of this document when you arrive next week. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions (rsanderson@sbc.edu). See you
soon!
On Friday night, the Campus Events Organization (CEO) and the Inter Club Council (ICC) co-hosted a Student Involvement fair, picnic, and singer. There was a huge turnout as the upperclass students represented their clubs to new students. The lower quad was packed with club tables and first years signing up for clubs. I hosted a table and encouraged all first years and sophomores to stop by to pick up a free SBC calendar and to register for door prizes. I am happy to announce that two first years won. Alyssa Sarmiento won a SBC insulated cup and Ali Nichols won a book shop gift certificate!
Quadrocks 2011
Students participated in Learning on the Land
First day of college class!
Orientation 2011–It’s hard to believe today is the last day of orientation and tomorrow classes begin. For most of our new students, tomorrow will be their first day of college! How exciting! We just gathered together as a campus for Opening Convocation, the official beginning of the academic year followed by a community picnic.
As expected, the vast majority of orientation focused on getting students prepared academically–learning about academic resources on campus, signing up for classes, meeting their adviser, etc. Orientation provided them with an understanding of the library, computing on campus, and even provided a mock classroom experience. Students visited the library to gain an understanding of the vast number of resources available to them and met the incredibly helpful staff. The mock class defined the expectations of a Sweet Briar classroom. Students met with their advisers in small groups and one-on-one to sign up for their fall classes. Orientation is centered around academic preparation, but students were able to relax and socialize at the evening events.
Welcome to the Sweet Briar community, first years and parents! I am very excited that you are joining our community on Saturday! We are eagerly preparing for your arrival. Orientation is going to be a lot of fun and a wonderful transition into the community! The finalized orientation schedule can be found on our website. You can also follow orientation on Twitter: @orientsbc
This blog is intended to keep parents of first-years connected to the campus community. I will post articles that you may find interesting and highlight events that assist with first year transition. Who knows, you may even find your daughter’s photo at an event on here. I would encourage you to post comments or questions if you would like more information about topics. You can subscribe to this blog by entering your email address on the right side of the page. You will receive an email every time a new blog entry is posted.
January marks the beginning of a new year and today marks the beginning of a new semester for 9 new Sweet Briar students. We began spring orientation for these students today. They have a much shorter orientation than our students that join us in the spring, but they enjoy a lot of the same wonderful aspects including Learning on the Land, Honor Code, Academic Experience, Library Orientation, etc. We are happy to welcome this new group of students; some are attending college for the first time, but the majority are students that have transferred from another college. Halla Halla to these new students!
Each year Sweet Briar announces a common reading book before summer break. Faculty, Staff, upper class students, and entering first-years are all encouraged to read the selection prior to orientation in August. The intention is create a common bond, stimulate intellectual conversations, and promote life-long learning. The books is often tied into the entry level English classes on campus so it is imperative that first-year students read the book.
The common reading book this year is “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” written by Rebecca Skloot. I started reading this book a few months and I never expected that I would become so interested in it! I’ve enjoyed the common reading selections in the past, but I found this book to be a real page turner. I have a 5.5 month baby and I would often read the book while feeding him at night so that I could guarantee that I would stay awake. Author Rebecca Skloot reveals the true story of Henrietta Lacks, an African American tobacco farmer from Virginia who developed cancer in 1951. During her cancer treatment, some of her cells were removed without her consent and have become immortalized as the primary cells used in medical research. He cells have been grown in labs and used in research since 1951. You may recall from Biology class, the term HeLa cells; He La stands for Henrietta Lacks. Her family did not know for many years that her cells where revolutionizing the medical industry and have never financially benefited from the multi-billion dollar industy. Rebecca Skloot spent approximately 10 years with Henrietta’s descents gathering the facts about this story.
Common Reading Book 2010
I would highly recommend this book to anyone! It is such an interesting book and I am super excited to be going to Rebecca Skloot’s lecture on campus tonight. I know that Murchison Lane Auditorium will be packed at 7:30! I hope to see a lot of first-year students in attendance.
The book was just selected as the Best Book of 2010 by Amazon.com
Henrietta Lacks
Author Rebecca Skloot
Thank you to all of the parents and first-years who completed the Orientation 2010 survey. We truly value your feedback and will use this information as we plan for orientation 2011. Congratulations to first year, Wendy Sivik, who won the $25.00 gift certificate to the SBC bookshop/cafe!
Orientation 2010 is finished! Wow, it’s hard to believe that orientation is over and classes have begun. Now the real fun of college begins. The challenges inside and outside the classroom will lead to your complete college education.
I hope you found orientation helpful to you. We would love to improve orientation for next year. One of the best ways for us to do that is to hear YOUR feedback. We would really appreciate if you would complete a short orientation survey. We will draw 1 student name to win a $25.00 gift certificate to the bookshop.
Parents-we would LOVE your feedback! Please click here and complete the parent orientation evaluation. Parents-make sure you complete the last page by entering your name and your daughter’s name so she will be entered into the prize drawing-a $25.00 gift certificate to the bookshop.
Students-please click on this link to complete your orientation evaluation. Make sure you enter your name on the last page of the survey to be eligible for the $25.00 bookshop gift certificate.
Thanks in advance for your time in completing these important forms!
Click here to view a slide show of orientation photos. Enjoy!
Orientation 2010-It’s hard to believe today is the last day of orientation and tomorrow classes begin. For most of our new students, tomorrow will be their first day of college! How exciting!
As expected, the vast majority of orientation focused on getting students prepared academically–learning about academic resources on campus, signing up for classes, meeting their adviser, etc. Orientation provided them with an understanding of the library, computing on campus, and even provided a mock classroom experience. Students visited the library to gain an understanding of the vast number of resources available to them and met the incredibly helpful staff. The mock class defined the expectations of a Sweet Briar classroom. Students met with their advisers in small groups and one-on-one to sign up for their fall classes. Orientation is centered around academic preparation, but students needed to relax and socialize as well.
Students heading to orientation events
Sunday night almost two-thirds of the first years attended their first boathouse party-Mocktails and Crafts. Students bonded over crafting events and non-alcoholic mocktails. I had the privilege of attending, and I was amazed at how quickly they are bonding as a class. The Student Government Association hosted an “Honor and Traditions” event that educated students about the honor code on campus and the strong traditions that pervade the campus. The SGA president, Sarah Buttine ’11, allowed me to post a link to the video that they showed at the traditions session. I think the first-year class is very excited about the traditions. I can’t wait to see them participate in Fall Step Singing in a few weeks.
First Boathouse Party of the Year hosted by CEO
CEO Exec Board Member-Desiree and SGA President-Sara serving mocktails at the boathouse party hosted by CEO
Students also had the opportunity to participate in one of the most unique orientation programs-Learning on the Land. Student groups are led by faculty and staff as they learn about unique aspects of the campus. The program promotes a connection to the campus, and faculty/staff, and an enthusiasm for life long learning.
On Monday night, the Student Government Association hosted Only@Sweet Briar in our new Fitness and Athletic Center. It was a huge success!!! Students participated in crafting, zumba, extreme dodgeball, watched a movie, participated in a wii tournament, and so much more! We seem to have a very social first-year class!
I hope you have enjoyed reading a few of the highlights from Orientation 2010-there was so much more! But now I must finish this blog so I can head to Opening Convocation and Community Picnic-the official opening of the 2010-2011 academic year!
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