Parent here, very first post…can any students or parents please comment on how the first day of orientation (the mass and dinner normally attended with parents) would be for a student who attends alone without parents? Do the families normally sit together for these two events? Would it be awkward for my son to attend alone, considering he may not know anyone at that point? Do they make any accommodations for those attending alone? After taking time off for a family vacation the week prior and time off for drop off, we may not be able to attend, although I’ve heard it’s a wonderful program. Thanks in advance.
90%+ are families attending together. He’d be out there alone for the mass/dinner but after that he’d be with the other orienteers until the end. It was a very good program.
He would really only be alone at the dinner and he will sit with other students and parents. We had a student attending alone at our table and it wasn’t a big deal. Everyone was strangers so it was small talk all around. The mass is optional but very nice and no one will notice him being alone.
Thanks for the replies.
I went alone. A very nice family offered to let me sit with them during dinner which was very kind. Apart from the possibility of having an awkward dinner, your student will do just fine since all the other activities are separated between parents and students. The parents won’t see their student until the last day of orientation anyways.