With tired eyes and morning grogginess still intact, local 6th graders entered the gym of their future school as if being thrown head first into a lion’s den. These youngsters may have been expecting a dull presentation, but that is not what they received — not even close.

The annual orientation is a way to show the prospective 7th graders what Kimmons Junior High has to offer, including Orchestra, Band, Choir, Dance, and Cheer. The Orchestra performed The Avengers theme song. The Band played an array of songs such as Pharell Williams’s “Happy” and Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out of Heaven.”

“I felt a rush of excitement when I saw the kids cheer on the Band,” Alexis Gonzalez, 9th, said. “It was a great experience.”

The Girls’ Choir sang Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking out Loud,” and the Boys’ Choir sang Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are.”

“I felt nervous because the song wasn’t familiar to me,” Angel Gonzalez, 9th, said.

In addition to student performances, the administrators spoke to the visitors. For example, Principal Watkins talked about Kimmons with true pride, telling the 6th graders the types of clubs here and the qualifications to get in.

“It’s always a great opportunity to ‘show off’ the great talents of our students,” Principal Watkins said.

These future junior high students received an orientation that hopefully altered their views of Kimmons into an even better one.

“I hope that the 6th graders learned that everything we do at Kimmons is as a team,” Bao Ha, 9th grade Raider Rep, said. “We’ve got one another’s back no matter what because after all, ‘Individually we are different, but together we are Kimmons Junior High.'”