Welcome to the Pack is all about introducing and familiarizing eighth graders to Hughson High, giving them a glimpse of what they can expect here, and helping build a foundation for their high school careers. Students from Ross and other schools seeking to come to Hughson in the future come over to experience an array of fun activities, exciting videos, and what they can expect from their high school careers at HHS.

Welcome to the Pack is a huge event that is in collaboration with LOH, FFA, and Ms. Crawford, put on from the beginning of the school day until 1:30pm. Ms. Brazil, head of LOH, explained that we started Welcome to the Pack sometime between 2018 – 2019 to give incoming freshmen a headstart in understanding the opportunities we have to offer.

Welcome to the Pack involves many things going on throughout the day. At the beginning of the day, when the kids get here, they receive a pass and a shirt. The pass tells them their schedule for the day, and, explained shortly after to them, tells them their group leader. After a quick presentation of what they can expect for the day, the students are introduced to their group leaders, Hughson High students, who will lead them around to their workshops and watch over them.

Brazil explained that the workshops include survival guides, ways to get involved at HHS, course balloting – picking out their classes for next year – as well as one about athletics/sports and about FFA opportunities. After lunch time, all the students and group leaders come back into the new gym for another, final presentation. They get to watch a video about the whole event, and they receive a final debriefing before they are released to go back to their respective schools.

When describing her thoughts about Welcome to the Pack, Janette Valencia Gonzalez, Yearbook Social Media Coordinator, stated, “I think it is a really good opportunity for the eighth graders coming in… and it is a very unique experience here at Hughson.” Another Yearbook member, Madden Nobles, had something similar to share, stating, “It is a good opportunity for incoming eighth graders to get involved, meet new people, and kind of get them excited for high school next year.”