(November 19, 2001) -- Transitions from middle school to high school create changes never thought possible. Clark’s Principal Advisory Committee (PAC) is now helping freshmen with these transition. PAC members received this job Oct. 30 and have been going into freshmen English classes to ask students how they can gain more experiences in high school and make their experiences more meaningful, according to PAC Co-advisor Jennifer Diaz.

All PAC members were put into groups of four and sent out to ask students what they like about Clark, what they don’t like and what they would like to see to make their experiences here better, said PAC member junior Lauren Tharp. Tharp’s group members include junior Augustin Garcia, senior Sara Laue and sophomore James Costanzo. They went into English teacher Maral Guarino’s second period Nov. 4 and conducted a survey, according to Tharp.

The students wanted longer lunches, a change in the dress code that includes casual Fridays, more dances, regular sports, and more information on clubs, said Laue.

According to Nicole Murdock, whose group completed surveys similar to Tharp’s group, the freshmen she talked to like Clark, but want a football team and free dress days on banking days. Laue said the information the students wanted to share was put onto a chart. According to Diaz, any information PAC members gain they will pass on to the administration or maybe the ASB, depending on the suggestion and how realistic it was.

However, freshman Harish Venkitaramanan disagreed on the effectiveness of the PAC project. “There’s nothing [freshmen] can tell [PAC members] that they can actually change,” he said. He remarked that PAC asking freshmen how to better the school was pointless and a waste of time. Laue commented, “We have every intention of helping freshmen.”

“It didn’t work out too well last year, but this year we’re more organized,” Tharp said.
According to Diaz, if the project doesn’t have the desired effects, PAC will meet again. “PAC members have very good suggestions to help freshmen feel more connected to this school and adjust to high school,” she commented. She also added that some students aren’t even aware of what they can be involved in. Laue said, “Freshmen need to feel [they’re] a part of the community… I’m hoping this year will be better.”