Welcome to Home Room From Andrea Peters, a band/music teacher at Savannah Middle School in Grifton, North Carolina: "The first day of middle school is always hectic so I've come up with an activity that engages all students yet gives me time to do what I need to do. As students enter the room, they pick up a letter that welcomes them to my Home Room. It then instructs them to find their desks. Next, they are to get an envelope from my desk, place any instructional/locker fees in it and write their name on the outside. I then have them sign a poster, have some light refreshments, notice the poster for emergency procedures, read their student handbook and the like. The letter states that they are to ask their fellow classmates for help, which allows me the freedom to handle the usual last minute details from the office. Last year I added a second day edition to my letter which includes instructions on how to open a combination lock, another challenge for new middle school students!"