Poway High School senior Katie Gavigan is looking forward to playing water polo and swimming competitively for the Titans when the seasons arrive.

And she’ll be challenging herself with AP Government and AP Statistics classes.

But one of her favorite roles will be as a Titan Ambassador, a group of seniors who represent the school and visit elementary schools to get younger students excited about being a future Titan. They are role models who teach others to have good character and be successful in academics, athletics and in life, she said.

“I’m looking forward to all the football games and school dances and having a good last year at Poway High,” Gavigan said while greeting students at the high school’s front gate for the first day back at school on Aug. 21.

Poway Unified Interim Superintendent Greg Mizel joined Gavigan and a handful of other Titan Ambassadors in giving high-fives and cheers to students.

Mizel said the first day back brings hope, new opportunities and a clean slate for everyone.

“Today is about joy,” Mizel said. “I really believe this could be one of our best school years yet. We’ve had a couple of challenging years with the pandemic, chronic absences, financial challenges and leadership challenges, but on this first day of school you feed off the energy. Kids are happy and parents are happy. The teachers are returning with a little pep in their step.”

This new school year brings new possibilities for the Poway Unified School District, he added. The district has seven new principals including those who made lateral moves and had promotions, and hired 75 new teachers. There are also more than 100 new classified staff working in the district this year, who include bus drivers, groundskeepers, custodians, cafeteria workers, administrative professionals and before- and after-school caregivers, he said.

“There’s a lot to welcoming back 35,000 kids and it takes an army of people to set it up,” Mizel said. “Students are ready to learn and our staff are ready to welcome them back.”

Poway High Principal Richard Nash said one of the challenges this year will be getting students back to class on a regular basis and making sure they’re in their seats daily.

“Schools as a whole are trying to re-engage students to be on campus more frequently and to not miss instructional time,” he said before joining a freshmen-only orientation that started in the gym at 8:15 a.m.

Once the assembly got underway, Nash told the roughly 560 freshmen out of over 2,100 students on campus that high school is what they are able to make of it. He encouraged them to make friends, pursue goals whether they are related to athletics or academics, and join clubs as other Titans have done since 1961.

“Find what you are passionate about and hold onto it with both hands,” he told the students in the stands. “None of it will be available to you unless you are fully engaged in your academics every day.”

The gathering turned into a pep rally with student leaders teaching the freshmen the school cheers.

Ellie Gant, a Titan Ambassador and president of the school’s Peer Counseling group, encouraged the students to pursue their interests, whether it’s clubs, sports or other opportunities.

“As you embrace the Titan family, stay confident and curious,” Gant said.

Student Addison Cooper also encouraged the class of 2028 to “get out of their comfort zone” and explore new opportunities such as attending dances and air band performances, taking AP classes for college credit or learning a trade through the Career Technical Education classes that include agriculture, engineering and theater arts.

“A big part of your journey will be the classes you take,” Cooper said. “You can customize your schedule to your interests.”

Student Jack Fleck told the freshmen there are more than 50 clubs on campus to get involved with -– such as the Environment Club, Fashion Club and Surfing Club -– and there are a “plethora” of sports activities.

“I’m on the varsity volleyball team,” Fleck said. “I have the best memories of spending time with teammates, on bus rides, and going to games is always a blast.”

Varsity dance team member Tatyana Maxwell said the dance team provides another opportunity for students who are interested in performing at football games, basketball games and pep rallies.

Aaron Jaffe, a photography teacher at the high school, said the peer-to-peer format of the orientation makes the exchange of information more meaningful.

“There’s a collaboration with Peer Counseling and Titan Ambassadors who have involvement around the school and understand what it means to be a Titan,” Jaffe said.

Poway High counselor Monica Taylor said the orientation and an all-school welcome assembly afterward were “neat ways” to get the students excited about returning to campus.

“The event focuses on the spirit of the school,” Taylor said. “The new students were participating in the cheers and getting hyped up to join our community.”