This year in Worthington's high schools, only freshmen will have to roll out of bed and onto buses Tuesday, Aug. 24.

Upperclassmen get to sleep in one more day before starting school next Wednesday, Aug. 25.

Here's a look at what's new at Worthington Kilbourne and Thomas Worthington high schools.

Thomas Worthington

Principal Jim Gaskill said about 1,566 students will attend Thomas Worthington this year.

He said the school has been "transformed."

"I think anyone who steps foot in our buildings will recognize we've gone through a significant transformation," he said. "A lot of new spaces that were formerly storage have been cleaned out and reorganized into teacher and student work spaces."

One especially large place was the upstairs teacher center, which is now the Cards Center, a multiservice room containing several workspaces, Gaskill said.

"We'll have tutors and e-school available, an advanced-placement study room, a National Honor Society room and space set up for students in our guided study program," he said. "We also have a learning lab and a skill-building room to help get kids up to grade level who are struggling with basic skills."

The multipurpose room also contains an area where students can go to relax and work quietly, he said.

"We'll have five or six computer pads that kids can use for independent study," he said. "It's a huge learning center with a variety of functions to it."

New staff members at Thomas this year include Marcia Dickerson, Melissa Kentner, Kristin Maynard, Lori Poleway, Kendra Prindle, Dan Girard, Diana Long, Cindy Moore, Lori Povisil, Lilly Yap, Stephanie Burns, Adrienne Eldridge, Greg Garris, Jessica Karam, Amy Hunter and Kimberly Troutner, as well as Vatsala Kaul, a Fulbright Exchange Teacher from India.

Assistant Principal Julie King said freshmen will come to an orientation day the week before school starts, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. today, Aug. 18.

"Our freshman mentors will greet them in the auditorium that evening and give them a brief informational session on where things are located, how to get your books, about the lunch program and bus schedules and other pertinent information," she said. "We have 60 juniors and seniors who are mentors and they will continue to help the freshmen through their first year."

King said the evening includes a "fashion show" on what to wear and what not to wear to school.

"Freshmen will also be able to tour the building with their parents and find lockers, then by 8:15 p.m. can attend the freshmen dance," she said.

On the first day for freshmen, Aug. 24, motivational speaker Harvey Alston will speak to the students, then they will go through an abbreviated schedule of their classes and even an "early graduation ceremony" at the end of the school day.

"We want the freshmen to realize that the graduation ceremony is really what it is all about, of where they want to be in 2014," King said. "They will each receive a wristband that says 'Believe in you,' a partial diploma and a necklace that is a key that says 'Class of 2014.' We want them to see that this first year will count toward graduation."

Worthington Kilbourne

Principal Ed Dunaway will welcome 1,300 students to Worthington Kilbourne High School.

Assistant Principal Ken Nally said freshmen will be treated to a lunch cookout on the first day, Aug. 24.

"It's a day for freshmen to get used to the building and find lockers and a way for teachers to introduce themselves," he said. "At lunch, the staff members and students will go outside and our Parent Teacher Organization will cook hamburgers and hot dogs."

He said a motivational speaker also will talk to students on the first day.

"Our upper-class mentors will get the freshmen into small groups by alphabet and take them around the school to show them different areas and introduce them to teachers and administrators," Nally said. "The kids will also learn about the building, collecting signatures and stamps from teachers, as they go on a scavenger hunt."

Nally said the entire day is videotaped by the school's video production team and the video will be shown again to freshmen at their graduation rehearsal in 2014.

Registrar Suzanne Hoyt said the video also will be shown to freshmen parents when they attend an open house at 7 p.m. Sept. 15.

"The freshman first day works as a very successful transition from eighth grade to ninth grade, and parents we've talked to tell us students say a lot of good things about the day," Nally said.

New staff members are Marcia Dickerson, family consumer science; Emily Lazar, occupational therapist; Molly Lord, guidance counselor; and Eleanor Pinardi, intervention specialist.

Nally said the school has been spruced up over the summer.

"We've had a lot of painting done and we have brand-new lockers," he said.