With a screech of the brakes and a woosh of the school bus doors opening, crowds of current eighth graders are unleashed onto the C. M. Russell High School grounds. As they are welcomed by the performing CMR pep band, the incoming freshmen take in their first looks at the school they will be attending in the fall of 2025.
On May 14, CMR High School hosted its annual “Leap Up Day”, a day designed to ease the transition for incoming new students. Organized by the high school’s student government team and upperclassmen, eighth graders participated in tours, activities, and introductions aiming to familiarize the news students with the high school environment. The day began with an assembly in CMR’s auditorium, famously known as: Bill Will Hall. Principal, Jamie McGraw, welcomed the nervous but excited group of freshmen to her school and guided them to their seats to await the welcoming slideshow made and presented by the 2026 student government class.
“I look forward to seeing all of you here today and welcome you to this place that I love,” McGraw said.
As the students filled the maroon shaded seats, murmuring voices and muffled giggles infiltrated the theater. Incoming eighth grader, Taylor Taro, is more than confident as she takes her seat amongst her peers preparing to hear what the high school guides have in store for her class.
“How am I feeling? Honestly I’m pretty excited,” Taro said.
Following the introduction, the upperclassmen, identifiable by their name tags labeled by color, divided the underclassmen into smaller groups. These groups embarked on guided tours of the school, which visited key locations such as the library, cafeteria, main office, the student coffee shop, gymnasium, and other academic departments. As the Juniors and Seniors herded their groups of students down the halls they told not only the stories of the school’s facilities, but also words of wisdom regarding the school’s traditions. Such advice included: warnings about stepping on the rustler skull located in the hallway commons, for if you do, a Senior will be forced to make you kiss the floor. Though several eighth graders remained uneasy as they viewed their unfamiliar surroundings, feelings of eagerness could also be recognized.
“I’m excited for all of the school events and homecoming,” Tiana Hanson said during her tour.
Tour guides told fantasies of the school spirit that is unleashed during the first couple weeks of school, otherwise known as: homecoming week. The middle schoolers exchanged grins and glances with each other as they heard talk of dress up days, parades, football games, and HYPE. However, homecoming isn’t the only thing that has incoming students enthusiastic.
“I hope I can get into the culinary arts class…it’s been a passion of mine for a while,” said Owen Edwards, another eighth grader on tour.
After being taken on a trip through the media center, discussion of class opportunities became the next trending subject. Edwards and his tour group bubbled with anticipation as they conversed briefly with Biology and Forensics teacher Jon Davis about course options and opportunities. Mr. Davis explained the thrills that lie behind closed classroom doors. He forwardly proved his point as he stood amongst his “crime scene” layout of caution tape, flashing lights, and fake footprints made especially for his current forensics students later that day. As the gym was the next checkpoint on their tour, information also began to spill from the tour guides on how to get involved with competitive sports.
“We really want to get involved in sports, specifically Volleyball,” Madeline Nardinger and Vivian Kunkkel, a traveling duo on tour, said.
As it has been repeated numerous times throughout the welcoming presentations and amongst the tour groups, the most frequent piece of advice given to incoming students is to: Get involved! Fall sports including: Volleyball, Cross Country, Soccer, Cheerleading, and Football tryouts are all available for incoming freshmen to become engaged with. Outside of sports, several clubs are offered that satisfy every corner of interest imaginable including: Dungeons and Dragons, Chess, Peer Mentor Group, Newspaper, and etc.
As the tours came to a close, the upperclassmen said their goodbyes to the future rustlers as they made their departure, leaving with thoughts of the future and what it may hold for them as they begin their new chapters.
“I can’t wait for that freedom of being a high schooler,” Madeline Nardinger said.
