Crowded hallways fill with many upperclassmen as they reunite with old friends. Yet in the bustle, the few new students often just stand and watch the commotion, hands in their pockets, jittery, with little eye contact.

Ten new juniors and three seniors arrived on campus without the inner sanctum of their old friends.

?I like Fresno Christian better because it is smaller so you can get to know everyone,? former Hoover High student, Jordan Lowery, ?09, said, ?and everyone is so much friendlier here. Also the teachers seem more concerned about me.?

Lowery believes participating in sports helps new students adjust. He joined the varsity football team and plans to play basketball and baseball as well.

?I think that being in a sport has made it easier to adjust,? Lowery said, ?because you get a feel for all the people here, and you can meet new people quicker.?

Similar to Lowry, former Central High student Kiranpreet Singh, ?08, plays on the football team and is debating whether or not to try out for basketball.

?I wish I could have finished my last year at Central with all my old friends,? Singh said. ?It?s hard to get used to Fresno Christian but it?s not too different from my old school.?

Although most transferred campuses within town, some relocate from another state.

After two and a half years at Ryle High in Kentucky, as well as the second semester of her junior year at St. Henry District High, Brittany Hollingsworth moved to Fresno to spend her senior year on campus.

?I prefer public schools over private,? Hollingsworth said, ?but the people here are very friendly and most made it a point to introduce themselves to me.?

While most new students have never attended this school, a few have returned after spending a couple of years elsewhere.

?I left because of money reasons,? Trevor Bodi, ?09, said. ?I ended up going to Clovis West for two years. My parents wanted me to come back so I did, but I don?t mind because this is an awesome place.?

Due to Bodi?s passion for music, he plays guitar for the worship band on campus.

?I?ve been playing guitar for two and a half years,? Bodi said. ?I decided not to play at Clovis West because I didn?t like the way it was organized there but I love how it?s set up here.?

Scott Falk, a campus teacher for 14 years, currently teaches Bible with many of the new upperclassmen. He makes a point to get to know students personally, to remind them he cares.

?I ask lots of questions,? Falk said, ?and regularly check up on them by asking, ?how?s it going?? when I see them in the halls. I have a lot of respect for the new juniors and seniors; it would be difficult transferring this late.?