I was really anxious for Bruce to start middle school this year. I had heard so many horror stories. Bruce was nervous too, but just because he was going to have to find all of his classes and things. He felt better knowing that all of the 6th graders were in the same boat and that none of the other 6th graders knew how it worked either. We were able to pull up his schedule the day before school started. He was super excited to get the elective he wanted...Enrichment Wheel. He's in computer programming right now and will have a different class each 12weeks.
After his first day of school, both Bruce and I both breathed a sigh of relief. He was able to find his classes, he had a couple of friends from previous schools in each of his classes and he found friends and cousin to sit with at lunch. He also liked his teachers. He has since told me that he said a lot of little prayers at school that first week. He said prayers that he'd find his class and get there on time and that he'd be able to stay organized and not forget about any of his homework.
He has fewer class changes than expected. A few of his classes are two periods long so he only goes to 5 different classrooms.
His classes are going well. Math is his favorite subject but this stupid Common Core is really complicating things. Most everything is a word problem and they like to phrase them as complicated as possible. Seriously, I hate Common Core. But, he does have a good teacher and manages to do well.
My suggestion for any up and coming 6th grader is to start running. They have to be able to run the mile and improve upon their time by the end of the year.(at least at all the middle schools here in Oside) It's no problem for Bruce since he has been running for years in soccer. He's already ran the mile, and improved on his time the next mile they ran. But, so many of the kids struggle. The elementary school actually has the kids run laps every day now which I think is helpful because there are a lot of kids that have had no exercise at all at home. He has already lost or had stolen a set of PE clothes, which stinks since they're $20.
Bruce got chosen as part of the Successful Six on the second day of that program this year. He got free lunch with one of the teachers and his name on the marquee.
He is always very happy about his school day when I pick him up from school.
The biggest adjustment for him has been having to wake up at 6:30am every morning. He is so tired by the end of the day, especially when he has soccer practice that night. So, some of his tired nights turn in to a little panic on his part about how he's going to keep up with everything. I have to get him in bed pretty early.
The school has a very strict homework rule. If you don't turn in your homework the day it's due, you have to go to HOP(Homework Opportunity Program). You have to spend the first 20min. of your lunch completing your homework, and stay the full 20min. even after you've finished. This is his worst nightmare. So far, so good though. He would be devastated have to wait in the long lunch line and miss out on his daily football game at lunch. :)
He eats at the Panther Grill everyday and has a hamburger and fruit.
The school has a good incentive program. If you get a good GPA, don't get detention, get less than 3 HOPs, then you get the opportunity to go on special field trips, watch movies, etc. He's excited about this and he worries about missing out on this if he ever got a detention or something.
He has seen one fight from a distance, but there is so much security walking around campus that they shut anything down pretty quickly. The other big change is the bad language that he hears everywhere.
We just went to open house at his school. His teachers had great things to say about him and I'm very happy with the school. So, middle school is good.
It's hard to believe that Linda will be joining him next year. I'm curious to see how middle school goes next year from a girls perspective.
After his first day of school, both Bruce and I both breathed a sigh of relief. He was able to find his classes, he had a couple of friends from previous schools in each of his classes and he found friends and cousin to sit with at lunch. He also liked his teachers. He has since told me that he said a lot of little prayers at school that first week. He said prayers that he'd find his class and get there on time and that he'd be able to stay organized and not forget about any of his homework.
He has fewer class changes than expected. A few of his classes are two periods long so he only goes to 5 different classrooms.
His classes are going well. Math is his favorite subject but this stupid Common Core is really complicating things. Most everything is a word problem and they like to phrase them as complicated as possible. Seriously, I hate Common Core. But, he does have a good teacher and manages to do well.
My suggestion for any up and coming 6th grader is to start running. They have to be able to run the mile and improve upon their time by the end of the year.(at least at all the middle schools here in Oside) It's no problem for Bruce since he has been running for years in soccer. He's already ran the mile, and improved on his time the next mile they ran. But, so many of the kids struggle. The elementary school actually has the kids run laps every day now which I think is helpful because there are a lot of kids that have had no exercise at all at home. He has already lost or had stolen a set of PE clothes, which stinks since they're $20.
Bruce got chosen as part of the Successful Six on the second day of that program this year. He got free lunch with one of the teachers and his name on the marquee.
He is always very happy about his school day when I pick him up from school.
The biggest adjustment for him has been having to wake up at 6:30am every morning. He is so tired by the end of the day, especially when he has soccer practice that night. So, some of his tired nights turn in to a little panic on his part about how he's going to keep up with everything. I have to get him in bed pretty early.
The school has a very strict homework rule. If you don't turn in your homework the day it's due, you have to go to HOP(Homework Opportunity Program). You have to spend the first 20min. of your lunch completing your homework, and stay the full 20min. even after you've finished. This is his worst nightmare. So far, so good though. He would be devastated have to wait in the long lunch line and miss out on his daily football game at lunch. :)
He eats at the Panther Grill everyday and has a hamburger and fruit.
The school has a good incentive program. If you get a good GPA, don't get detention, get less than 3 HOPs, then you get the opportunity to go on special field trips, watch movies, etc. He's excited about this and he worries about missing out on this if he ever got a detention or something.
He has seen one fight from a distance, but there is so much security walking around campus that they shut anything down pretty quickly. The other big change is the bad language that he hears everywhere.
We just went to open house at his school. His teachers had great things to say about him and I'm very happy with the school. So, middle school is good.
It's hard to believe that Linda will be joining him next year. I'm curious to see how middle school goes next year from a girls perspective.
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