At the start of the school year, Sacred Hearts Academy juniors hosted the annual Freshmen Initiation for the Class of 2029.

During the week of Freshmen Initiation, juniors celebrated spirit week with their “little sisters,” as they’re called, creating opportunities to bond and show school spirit. Each day, the pairs wore matching outfits, adding fun to the week’s events. 

Freshmen Initiation is like a rite of passage that welcomes new students to high school, participants say, little sisters and big sisters dress up and play games throughout the week. Little sisters learn dances that their big sisters choreographed. Then they perform in front of the school during an assembly.

“In creating this choreography, we hope that our little sisters have fun but also make lasting memories,” junior Kaila Aiwohi-McKee said. As a third-year student, Aiwohi-McKee shared that she wants her little sisters to enjoy high school and cherish these moments together. 

“When our big sisters first showed us this dance, this was out of my comfort zone,” freshman Halai Alo said. “But I decided to take the chance and really engage with it, as I had my friends around me also performing as well.”

Junior Sage Nguyen not only choreographed her group’s dance number but also created a special video dedicated to them, which was displayed on the digital board in the gym.

“Our choreography brings something fresh to the table,” she said. “We hope our little sisters will appreciate the dance we put together for them. We really just want them to have the best time out there.”