![Benjamin Williams and Reese Sherman, social studies teachers, explain department information a guest. "This [open house] was, for me, a great opportunity to meet family in the district that will soon be attending the high school," Williams said.](https://www.utimesonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSC_9117-1200x800.jpg)
New kids on the block
Students transferring from other schools note differences from old schools
Working on a photojournalism project in Intro to Journalism, Maleak Johnson, sophomore, reflects on the reasons why he prefers U. City to Crossroads College Prepatory, where he previously attended. “The best part of transferring to U. City is running track and playing basketball,” said Johnson. “It’s a bigger school and I like the vibe of the bigger school.”
November 11, 2015
No one can imagine how it feels to be the new kid on the block… until you are.
“When you first go to a new school, it is hard because you have to get used to everything again,” said Taylor Bass, senior, who has attended Steger Sixth Grade Center, Oakville Middle School, and Parkway Northeast Middle School.
“U. City is a predominantly black school which is the opposite of every school that I’ve been to,” said Bass. “Also at this school there are more opportunities than I´ve ever been offered.”
After attending Brittany Woods Middle School and Rosati Kain High School, Kayanna Wymbs, senior, transferred back to U.City because she did not feel like she belonged at Rosati Kain High school.
“I gave it a chance and I just couldn’t make it work, “ said Wymbs.
Once Wymbs came back, she immediately felt welcomed and like she could be herself while being involved in many activities.
“My transfer here has actually been great, and the minute school started I felt like I immediately fit in and like I belonged, “ said Wymbs. “I try very hard to be involved in U. City. I play field hockey, cheer and am involved in as any activities as I can.”
A big population of transfers are freshman coming from private schools.
“There’s a lot more personalities here than at Christ the King (Catholic grade school),” said Peter Kellogg, freshman. “I am on the soccer team and robotics and they are both fun,” said Kellogg. “The soccer team here is better. At Christ the King, my dad was the coach and everyone got a chance to play at U. City, only the best players get to play.”
Another difference is the level of robotics at Christ the King where robotics were in the FLL league which only involved Legos.
“The robotics here are way more advanced than at my old school,” said Kellogg. “You work with real robots instead of Legos. Now I like to build the robots like Bob the Builder.”
Like Kellogg, sophomore Maleak Johnson came to U. City from a private school, Crossroads College Preparatory School. When students attend U. City, they typically have experienced some level of organized sports.
“I play soccer, basketball, and run track,” said Johnson. “Everything is different here then at Crossroads.”
