At Christ the King R.H.S., Middle Village, seniors individually welcomed freshmen to help them feel at home in their new school.

Freshmen were shown to classes and were assisted in their new locker assignments.

Principal Peter Mannarino also had a special message for the newcomers.

“I would like to welcome our new class of students and wish them the best of success as they embark on their secondary education,” he said. “Over the course of the next four years, Christ the King will challenge them both spiritually and physically to become the intellectual and moral leaders of tomorrow.”

Christ the King also welcomed three new teachers and a new

guidance counselor to the faculty, Alyssa Lopez, Ryan Markatos, Jennifer Schmoll and Stacy Mueller.

At Holy Cross H.S., Flushing, upperclassmen, faculty and staff welcomed the incoming Class of 2018 with a day of activities coordinated by the Office of Campus Ministry.

Their day included a Mass celebrated by Father Walter Jenkins, C.S.C., president of the school, a barbecue lunch in the courtyard and a brainstorming exercise to collectively create a homeroom seal, motto and contract.

Nicholas Forgione, whose brother Peter attended Holy Cross, had a great first day, making new friends and enjoying the camaraderie of the senior student leaders. He was in Mr. Lyon’s homeroom facing a blackboard that listed the core values that each student is required to live by each and every day – Community, Honesty, Respect, Integrity, Service, Teamwork.

Their class motto, they decided, would be “Through C.H.R.I.S.T. Holy Cross boys become MEN.”