Throughout the summer, Padua Academy offered two programs for the incoming freshmen to get to know their schedule, learn some different helpful tips on how to study, learn what to expect, and meet other freshmen.   These two programs were called Blast Off and Freshmen In Transition (FIT). Blast Off ran for five weeks on Tuesday nights, which allowed freshmen to meet other freshmen and even upperclassmen by participating in different activities such as: creating hats, playing sports like volleyball and street hockey, and walking to get water ice. FIT was a program that ran during one August week from Monday to Thursday. This program was to also help freshmen by letting them meet others, going to different classes to learn study skills,  such as meeting teacher expectations, preparing material, and taking notes.

Many freshmen found these programs very beneficial to them and were able to make more friends! Freshmen Jasmine Wise and Kaitlyn Barry attended both programs and found that the math program during FIT was most helpful to them. Kaitlyn said, “They told me what to expect.” Katie Brasberger found running through the schedule most beneficial. Another freshman, Jenna Riggs, attended both, but Blast Off was her favorite program out of the two. Jenna said, “On Tuesday nights I had a good time walking to get water ice because it allowed me to meet other people in a fun environment.”