Rio Rancho schools provide 'jump start' to new middle and high schoolers

RIO RANCHO — If Wednesday signified the race to start the new school year, Rio Rancho sixth graders and freshmen would have beaten their classmates by a day.

That’s because Rio Rancho Public School officials welcomed them to their new schools Wednesday in a tradition called “Jump Start,” orienting them in their transition from elementary school to middle school or middle school to high school.

Soledad Tabet, a Rio Rancho High School freshman who came from Lincoln Middle School, said she visited the school before because her sister attended years ago. Still, Tabet felt unfamiliar with RRHS.

“It was a little bit scary,” she said.

But, “I think today really helped me ... figure out my classes and lessen my nerves about school,” Tabet added.

She and more than 670 other incoming RRHS freshmen began their day around 7:20 a.m. with an assembly hosted by school and student leaders. Then, they took a tour of the facility to learn their way around and find their classes. The day ended around 10:20 a.m., following a gathering in the campus courtyard, where freshmen could learn about different school clubs and activities.

Waylon Sanders, an RRHS freshman who came from Eagle Ridge Middle School, felt “Jump Start” was helpful — particularly in finding his guitar class and instructor.

“I actually got to meet him rather than just see him standing on the stage,” Sanders said. “I’m just glad to know where my classes are.”

Tabet said the tour was not “super overwhelming.”

By the time she finished the tour and entered the courtyard, Tabet felt “more confident” about starting school as a high school freshman. She expressed interest in joining dance and Key Club.

Now that Sanders completed “Jump Start,” he knows he won’t get lost on the first day of school.

“(By tomorrow), I’ll know everything,” he said.

He may know even more about the high school than most of his peers. Sanders has a brother who is starting his senior year at RRHS.

“He told me not to worry, because the Jump start day teaches you everything — and steer clear from the bad crowds,” Sanders said.

Having calmed her nerves about the first day of school at Jump Start, Tabet plans to find new friend groups to ease into the new school year.

As seniors, student leaders Ethan Lee and Aspen Ly both know what it’s like to be in the freshmen’s shoes. They were on hand Wednesday to talk to students and give them a tour of campus.

Ly, the RRHS student body president, said she was surprised to see a lot of freshmen not appearing nervous to start school. But they appeared nervous to meet new people.

Asked what she did Wednesday to break the ice, Ly said she recruited a freshman to be her friend and approached another freshman so that the two could be friends, and repeated the process.

“It’s worked so far,” Ly said.

Lee, the RRHS student body vice president, said the most important thing freshmen should know coming into high school is to be outgoing.

“Take the risk; do something challenging; put yourself in uncomfortable situations, because that is where growth happens,” Lee said.

Instruction for the 2025-26 school year begins Aug. 7.