Looking for TJHSST advice for freshmen

[Anonymous]

Dear fellow parents, my daughter is very shy and she is not good at sports. She is one of the few girls attending TJHSST from our county this Fall. I want to seek your advice if there are certain clubs that may benefit her socially by joining. Unfortunately, she does not want to join any after school athletics. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I just don't want her to sit alone during lunch like she did in middle school.

[Anonymous]

Does she play an instrument? Maybe join marching band or color guard...

[Anonymous]

I know you said she doesn't like sports, but does she do anything at all for fitness? If she even jogs to keep fit or even thinks she might like to, I would encourage her to try the cross country team. You don't need specific ball handling skills or hand eye coordination to run; you only need to put one foot in front of the other.

The team has optional practices run by the team captains during July, with regular practices starting in August. They are a really friendly, welcoming group and running is a great way to get to know other kids, because they can chat as they run along.

The kids I know who have done this have then started the first day of school already knowing a nice group of kids consisting of both freshmen and upperclassmen. It really reduces the stress of those first days to see some friendly faces in the hallways.

There are also lots of non-sports to join that are fun and worthwhile, but most of those start after the first day of school, so you don't get the benefit of getting to know kids during the summer. Whatever she decides though, definitely encourage her to join an activity at TJ. They have so many clubs there to join and it is a great way to get to know other kids and feel part of the school.

[Anonymous]

Sports is not a huge deal at TJ. There are lots of interest-based clubs, participation of which is inbuilt into the schedule (something called the 8th period, which itself is split into 2 blocks called A and B). The idea is you pick, ad-hoc even, what to attend during A and B blocks

I'm sure she will find something she likes

[Anonymous]

I second the marching band/color guard suggestion. It has been one of the highlights of my son's time at TJ. Great group of kids and the director is a fabulous mentor. Summer band camp made such a difference in making the transition to TJ a smooth one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sports is not a huge deal at TJ. There are lots of interest-based clubs, participation of which is inbuilt into the schedule (something called the 8th period, which itself is split into 2 blocks called A and B). The idea is you pick, ad-hoc even, what to attend during A and B blocks

I'm sure she will find something she likes

Agree. For example, my child plays bridge and Go during 8th period. If your daughter goes to the same clubs consistently during 8th period she will meet people. If she joins an i-nite dance group (eg ballroom dancing, Namaste, German Honors Society, etc) they have lots of practices together and seem to bond. You don't need to be an expert dancer...

Also, for the first year, they go to Bio, English and Technology with the same group of kids.

She should also meet people on the bus. I'd suggest she arranges to meet some kids for lunch in the beginning.

[Anonymous]

There is also a big-little program for incoming freshmen to help them get to know some people before school starts.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP: 8th period activities and IBET group wil help with meeting new people.

[Anonymous]

I felt there was a lot less of mean girl drama at TJ, and generally easy to make new friends just in classes. The school does a lot to help kids find their tribe while there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I felt there was a lot less of mean girl drama at TJ, and generally easy to make new friends just in classes. The school does a lot to help kids find their tribe while there.

+1000. This has been our experience as well.

[Anonymous]

I have a really nice boy going to TJ this fall for 9th and he doesn't know anyone either. I hope they find each other - he's really cute and nice too

[Anonymous]

My daughter is not athletic either but really found her stride (no pun intended) with cross country. It is a great sport because everyone gets to run regardless of skill level and it is less competitive, I guess, than other sports in that for a lot of the kids, it's just about getting out there and improving your time each meet. Maybe low-key is a better word. And of course it is great exercise. And takes no skill, really, which was good for my uncoordinated DD

[Anonymous]

Model UN.

[Anonymous]

And crew always starts with many students who never tried anything like it before. And the theater productions are excellent. There are over 150 choices for 8th period. She will find several things to enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Don't worry. It is very easy to make friend at TJ based on my eight years experience and two kids at TJ as long as she can keep up with her school work and grade (above 3.0 GPA). She can join any sport team at TJ and no experience is required. My daughter joined cross country team. She had never ran before her freshman year. She joined Lacrosse team, she had never picked up Lacrosse stick. You can guess where she is now. She is at west coast university that only accepted less than 5% of the students.