Starting Middle School

Dropping off my daughter for her first day of middle school brought back memories of that first day at kindergarten. But this time, I know I was more uneasy than she was. She was excited and maybe a little apprehensive. All I saw was my daughter walking onto a strange new campus populated by older and more worldly kids—7th and 8th graders!

But here it is June, and we survived the 6th grade. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

For those of you who are just starting this adventure, let me give you a couple of pointers.

We’re not in elementary school anymore, Toto.
Middle school is very different from elementary school, and it’s good to get that into your head right from the start. Middle schoolers are growing up and becoming more independent. Consequently, parents are not quite as involved there as they were in elementary school. Middle school is much more the child’s experience. Let them do it.

Pay attention
Lots of information is provided at middle school, but it comes in a much more diffuse way. Much of it is “filtered” through the students. Pay attention. It’s easy to miss things. Read the school newsletters and keep an eye on their websites.

Orientation week
Both middle schools provide a week of orientation for incoming 6th graders. It’s time well spent. The students get to see their friends, the teachers, and the campus. And they get a bit of an idea of how the school runs.

Cheetahs and panthers
The 6th grades are divided into groups. For example, at Creekside they are cheetahs and panthers. Each group has its own teachers. The concept is for the teachers and students to get to know each other better.

The academics
During 5th grade, teachers make an attempt to assign students to the curriculum that best suits their abilities. So some 6th grade students are assigned to the normal classes, and some to advanced language and math. Each year in middle school the students are reevaluated to insure that they are getting the most of their education. The guidelines for this are spelled out in the school handbook.

Outdoor school
When asked what was the best thing about the 6th grade, most students will immediately say “outdoor school.” Outdoor school is a week (including four nights) that the students spend at a camp near Pescadero on the coast. A permanent staff of teachers at the camp provide classes in science and nature. The students spend time in the forest, near streams, and on the beach learning while doing. It’s a great experience, but it can be a little nerve-wracking for parents. This year one week of outdoor school was in the middle of our worst storms of the year.

Letting Go…
Middle school is an extremely social time. For the first time since kindergarten, your child will meet an entirely new set of friends. Make an effort to learn about the company your child keeps. Tune in your ‘radar’ during carpools, sports events, sleepovers or anyplace your kids congregate. Casually touch base with the parents of your child’s close friends. While most of us have (sort of) learned to recede into the background, it can’t hurt to be subtly aware of friendships without direct involvement. In junior high, I found my mother’s phone calls to confirm my pre-arranged plans intrusive. Now that I am a parent, I understand why she made those calls.

Don’t worry
There are over 2,000 middle schoolers in Castro Valley. We haven’t lost a parent yet. Enjoy the year watching your 6th grade blossom.