Maybe I shouldn't have started this blog now, not with everything that's been going on.

Yesterday we had the first meeting with the students to prepare for the Freshman Orientation on Wednesday next week.

Ronnie presided the meeting. First he listed down the personnel needed for before and during the program in the auditorium. There were the people at the registration desk, the ushers and usherettes, the emcees and the intermission number/s.

Ronnie was originally thinking for the registration desk to be at the entrance then have the ushers bring them to the auditorium. I suggested having signs posted from the entrance to the elevator and from the elevator to the auditorium, and having the registration table just outside the auditorium.

That way we could be sure that everyone who registered would attend the orientation, unlike what happened during the Open Campus. Back then we were not sure we had gathered everyone from the registration beside the cafeteria to the auditorium, because some were already wandering around the campus looking for the auditorium, since they knew it was the next event in their program/invitation and they didn’t want to stick around for the opening ceremonies and welcome remarks near the registration table.

That also means that the ushers’ job would just be to bring the new students to their seats, preferably by their majors in preparation for the tour later.

No one had to be picked to lead the National Anthem, because the emcee would just ask everyone to rise and a digital audio file (conveniently downloaded from the net just today) would then be played. One of the emcees would then lead the opening prayer, which is multimedia: a slide presentation projected onto the back wall of the stage. The executive vice president would give his opening remarks afterwards.

The first main part of the orientation would be several speakers (including the directors of the various schools and the registrar) talking about the facilities, personnel, services, student handbook and academic policies. Again digital photos projected on the screen would supplement these short talks. Some student council and recognized organization officers would then talk about applying for and joining the student groups.

Maila would then lead some group dynamics and “getting to know you” activities. Sir Joel has a college survival game planned. An invited outside speaker (who, it seems, they also had last year) would talk about the transition from high school.

Depending on the time spent on the three sessions above, there will be a break for lunch between the first two or between the last two. After whatever session above is finished in the afternoon, they would then have the campus tour and tree planting, which needs one or two student guides per course depending on the size of the batch. Even though the whole thing is scheduled until 5pm, we’re really hoping to be done by 3pm.

There will be another meeting on Monday to get a status report on the preparations, including follow up on the sponsors, designing the banners and stage backdrop, making the registration sheets and nametags for the freshmen and the volunteers, the route markers along the halls and the weatherproof labels for the tree planting. Another meet may be scheduled on Tuesday if needed.