What are middle school kids like?

[jpktch]

Originally Posted by Vtenlin

I'm a middle school teacher and being a new student in Fairfax school is pretty normal. If she is a 7th grader, she'll be entering brand new like all students and they have excellent get to know your school programs. For example, my school has a week long program in the summer where they go to classes for 3 hours a day and learn organizing tips, locker tips, and get to know the school/teachers. It's a great way for her to meet other students. There's also an orientation the day before school starts where they can go through their schedule and meet their teachers for 7th and 8th graders. Every year there are a lot of brand new students to the county, and there are a bunch that join mid-year too. I would say that every year I get 5 students added to my classes once school has started. That's a harder transition, so if she's starting at the beginning of the school year things should be fine! Like others have said, middle schoolers are trying to discover themselves and are pretty open to most things!

Agree with all of that. I do have a question. You mention the summer program for new students, do the high schools have anything like that? Just curious. Thanks!

[Vtenlin]

In middle school we have 3 different week long programs available for students to attend, I don't think they do that in the summer for high school. I know that the high school my school feeds into does a bbq the Friday before school starts. Students can pick up their schedules, eat food, and then walk through their classes. Because it starts at 5pm, I'm not sure it's like in middle school where they go to each class for 10 minutes, get to meet their teacher, and then the bell rings for them to go to their next class. Since it's later in the night, I don't know if teachers would be there. There is a mentoring program that they can apply for in the high school. It pairs a senior up with a freshman and they meet with them during study halls to make sure all is going well. Students have to apply to have a mentor and students have to apply to be a mentor and get recommendations. I'm not as familiar with high school, sorry!

[jpktch]

Originally Posted by Vtenlin

In middle school we have 3 different week long programs available for students to attend, I don't think they do that in the summer for high school. I know that the high school my school feeds into does a bbq the Friday before school starts. Students can pick up their schedules, eat food, and then walk through their classes. Because it starts at 5pm, I'm not sure it's like in middle school where they go to each class for 10 minutes, get to meet their teacher, and then the bell rings for them to go to their next class. Since it's later in the night, I don't know if teachers would be there. There is a mentoring program that they can apply for in the high school. It pairs a senior up with a freshman and they meet with them during study halls to make sure all is going well. Students have to apply to have a mentor and students have to apply to be a mentor and get recommendations. I'm not as familiar with high school, sorry!

Thanks! That is helpful!

[abcinvan]

Thanks! That is very helpful! Would these orientations occur at the end of Aug? We won't be there until prob after Aug 22. I mean the week long orientation!

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by abcinvan

Thanks! That is very helpful! Would these orientations occur at the end of Aug? We won't be there until prob after Aug 22. I mean the week long orientation!

It varies by school, and not all middle schools have it. The program is called "Jump start". Once you figure out where you're living, you can contact the school to see what sort of orientation programs they have available. At the very least, there will probably be a summer math/reading packet you can pick up to get your daughter ready for the academics she's about to encounter.

Langston Hughes Middle School is proud to invite all rising 7th grade students to Jumpstart Camp! This is an exciting opportunity for all students to become familiar with middle school before the school year begins. Students will meet peers from all of the neighborhood elementary schools. This will be a great time to make new friends and get a JUMPSTART on the 2011-2012 school year! The camp will run from August 15 to August 19.

Langston Hughes Middle School

[SIZE=+1]"Jump Start" Summer Program - August 22-25, 8 am - 11 am[/SIZE]
"Jump Start" is a free summer program designed to help incoming 7th grade students and some 8th grade students new to the county adjust to middle school. Jump Start is a fun way to learn study skills, make new friends, and learn how to be successful at South County Secondary School

South County Secondary School