Freshmen go prime time
by Jason Stone

CAVE CREEK – It might not have the impact of ABC or NBC switching around its fall television lineup but Cactus Shadows High School, about to have its largest‑ever student body, is going to prime time tonight.

The school has moved its annual freshman orientation to the evening this year, giving it more impact for incoming freshmen and parents who may have normally missed it because of work.

The school is expecting to have nearly 2,000 students this year, its highest total ever.

“We decided that it was a little easier to allow parents to go to it,” said Cactus Shadows Principal Sid Bailey said. “This is the first time we’re doing it this way, so we really don’t know how many people will come, but we hope all the freshman will attend.”

From 6‑8 p.m. in the main gym, all areas of the school will be represented–from administrators to teachers.

“We’ll also have tours of the campus, and they can even go to their lockers and see where that is and get used to it,” Bailey said.

Classes begin Aug. 10, giving the freshmen one week to get acclimated to their new school.The school will also be using two campuses to handle the overcrowding as a handful of classes will be held at the former Black Mountain Elementary School.

Black Mountain has moved to the former Sonoran Trails Middle School, adjacent to the high school.

The new middle school is slated to complete its move next week to a new site near 54th Street and Pinnacle Peak Road.

Reach the reporter at jason@thedesertadvocate.com.