'We're Going To Change The First Day Of School'

As the 2013-14 school year gets underway, freshmen at Newtown High School are getting a crash course in high school culture, courtesy of the Link Crew program.

Upperclassmen mentored freshmen at the school's welcoming event Wednesday morning, showing them around and getting to know their new classmates.

Principal Charles Dumais told Patch the idea is to "change the first day of school."

"We've traditionally spent a chunk of time in the first two or three days of school going over the rules," he says. "And we've been stuck on the rules."

Dumais says students will be sent home with rule books, and can review information in class later. But in the future, welcome days will be focused on introducing students to students.

The concept is to "flip the opening of school," Dumais says -- allowing new students to review the rules at home so they can spend more time getting to know the culture of high school.

"Relationships are the fundamental parts of learning," says Dumais. "And schools have not spent enough time on relationships."

After tours, students gathered in the gym for words from Dumais and teachers (see video) and ended the day with lunch at the football field.