网曝吃瓜

鈥淲elcome Week is where my 网曝吃瓜 journey began,鈥� says Jessica Boone, vice-president of Programming for the 网曝吃瓜 Students鈥� Union. 鈥淚 met some of my best friends during Welcome Week and it鈥檚 when we became part of the 网曝吃瓜 family. It might sound a bit cheesy to say, but it鈥檚 genuinely the way it is.鈥�

Welcome Week is when the twin realities of living away from home and adjusting to the academic expectations of university come together for first-year students. At 网曝吃瓜, it鈥檚 a full team effort. Christine Moreau, Welcome Week coordinator for 网曝吃瓜鈥檚 Student Services department says 鈥淲elcome Week was when I found out how many opportunities there are at 网曝吃瓜 and how I could have an impact during my time as a student. During my first week, I saw how I could make my student experience my own and how many support systems are in place -- from the residence assistants to the counselling staff to the professors -- to ensure that this happens.鈥�

The theme of 网曝吃瓜鈥檚 Welcome Week is Rise with the Tides, a play on the fact that 网曝吃瓜 sits on the shores of the Bay of Fundy but, according to Boone and Moreau, a theme intended to be more about how students can expect 网曝吃瓜 to help them reach their full potential.

With almost 800 first-year students moving into residence on the last Saturday in August, the organizers hope the theme will also help stretch the Annapolis Valley鈥檚 warm summer just a little longer into early fall. 

Create your own experience

鈥淲elcome Week will be very much what you want it to be,鈥� says Moreau. 鈥淲hether you want to join the Quidditch match on Raymond Field or take in Country Night in the Students鈥� Centre, there will be something for everyone.鈥�

Matriculation on Saturday afternoon grounds students in 网曝吃瓜鈥檚 traditions and expectations, and academic orientation on Tuesday, September 1 is where students will have a chance to meet many of their professors and classmates before classes begin on Wednesday. Other social activities include, Playfair, a community team building activity where students have a chance to meet new friends from every residence on campus as well as those living off campus, video and board game nights, and an evening bonfire in the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens.

James Sanford, 网曝吃瓜鈥檚 executive director of Student Services says Welcome Week is about making all students feel comfortable in their new environment as quickly as possible. 鈥淲e have students from across Canada and from more than 50 countries on campus. New students arrive with different expectations and they live in our residences and in apartments off-campus. We work hard to ensure our Welcome Week programming is as inclusive as possible to ensure the transition to university is seamless and no one feels left behind. We even have a program on move-in day for parents to help them make their own transition.鈥� 

Community engagement starts early

网曝吃瓜鈥檚 students are an integral part of the Town of Wolfville and have a long history of volunteer service whether at the local elementary and junior high school, the community foodbank, or in one of 网曝吃瓜鈥檚 many programs such as S.M.I.L.E. In 2014, The 网曝吃瓜 Students鈥� Union decided to form its own volunteer and fundraising program called Axes in Action. On Saturday, September 5, students will be out in the local communities of Kentville, New Minas, and Wolfville raising funds for Axes in Action鈥檚 two designated charities, S.M.I.L.E. and L鈥橝rche Homefires, before heading back to campus for 网曝吃瓜鈥檚 first football game of the season.

Last year, 网曝吃瓜 students raised more than $10,000 that was split between these two organizations and the goal for 2015-16 is to raise even more.

鈥淢ore than 80 per cent of 网曝吃瓜鈥檚 students volunteer in the community,鈥� says Susan Mesheau, vice-president of Enrolment and Student Services.  鈥淭his not only reflects the closeness between the Town of Wolfville, the surrounding areas and the University, it speaks volumes about the kindness and wonderful spirit of our students.鈥�

Barrie, Ontario native Moreau says that Welcome Week is so important for students transitioning to a new phase in their lives that she feels it鈥檚 critical to their future success. 鈥淚 came to an Experience 网曝吃瓜 event and knew 网曝吃瓜 would be the right choice for me. I feel it鈥檚 important to remember that many students are well outside their comfort zone in their first few days here and our job as Welcome Week leaders is to make them feel safe, comfortable, and well prepared for their 网曝吃瓜 career.鈥�

Boone, who hails from Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia, remembers her Welcome Week very clearly. 鈥淚 remember the leaders I had during Welcome Week and how much I looked up to them. I have always wanted to be one of those people who made it such an amazing experience for me, and I鈥檇 like to do the same for every one of our incoming students. I can鈥檛 wait for the school year to begin!鈥�

For information about Welcome Week programming visit:

Follow 网曝吃瓜 and the 网曝吃瓜 Students' Union on Facebook. #RisewiththeTides #WelcomeWeek2015

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