Freshman Nikkia Childrey couldn’t wait to make the transition from George McGovern Middle School to New Tech High.

“I was originally going to go to Roosevelt. I heard about New Tech. I’m like, I’m going there,” Childrey said.

Project-based learning drew her to this westside campus and today she’s finding out how it all works from sophomore Tatiana Chance. Chance, who went through the 2-day introduction program last year, thinks it’s a great way to familiarize students with New Tech.

“Project-based learning, oh so I’m not going just sit down and have lectures all the time? That was the really big difference here. With the sophomores helping me learn how to do it, I learned that this is how it’s going to be and I don’t have to be like, ‘How do I do this? How do I present, basically.’ It was nice,” Chance said.

Communication and government studies teacher Scott Sorenson says students not sure what to expect, find out quickly how a hands-on learning environment operates.

“They’re working with lots of different personalities, starting to understand what their strengths are. Where their growth areas are and working on those and building their collaboration skills. Learning the content as they go,” Sorensen said.

And with mentors who’ve successfully made it through a freshman year before, they’re getting good advice.

“Since they’ve been through what we’re going through they know and they give you tips on what to do, what not to do. How to act. How to present yourself,” Childrey said.

Hopefully leading to a bright future at New Tech.

After working in groups during this project, students gave a presentation showing what they learned this afternoon.