William Paca Middle School Program Eases Transition, Develops Leaders

From the William Floyd School District:

December 3, 2019

William Paca Middle School Program Eases Transition, Develops Leaders

For many students and parents, the transition between elementary school and middle school can be one of the biggest adjustments in a student’s K-12 educational journey. To assist with that transition, William Paca Middle School has instituted the Bridge Crew, a group of approximately 50 seventh- and eighth-grade student leaders who serve as positive role models for all students and help incoming sixth graders feel comfortable in the transition to their new school. This is the second year of this program and it has proven successful.

“With the transition from elementary school, some sixth graders may experience a decline in academic achievement, difficulty with social adjustments and middle school expectations, poor attendance and conflict with peers,” said Jenn Engmann, assistant principal, William Paca Middle School, who is the founder and co-advisor along with school social worker, Alyssa Cabrera. “The Bridge Crew provides the structure and support necessary to ease that transition, build camaraderie in the school community and help develop leaders.”

The Bridge Crew consists of eighth-grader leaders and seventh-grade junior leaders who work together in hosting events such as the 5th to 6th Grade Mash-Up, an opportunity for students from attending elementary schools to get to know one another before the start of school, and they also work together on orientation day at the end of August, in which they help to serve as ambassadors by welcoming sixth graders, assisting them with their lockers, taking them on a school tour and discussing the clubs and activities that will be available to them. Then, when the school year begins, the Bridge Crew hosts various afterschool functions and provides assistance to students with directions, locker assistance, study parties and much more.

Jefferson Pichardo, an eighth-grade student who has been a Bridge Crew member since its inception as a seventh grader feels that students benefit from providing assistance to the incoming sixth graders. He said that it’s “exciting” to help out the students and “fun to see” everyone working together and getting to know one another. Some of the highlights from Bridge Crew for Jefferson are welcoming the students in during August and placing welcome cards on their lockers with instructions on how to open them. Last year, Jefferson recalled helping sixth-grade students study for their mid-terms and finals (after studying for their own), having pizza parties, participating in “Cookies & Cram” study sessions and more.

Ianna Bayley, a seventh grader serving as a junior leader, felt that the Bridge Crew helped her find her way as a new William Paca student last year. “They were so welcoming. They made me feel comfortable and unafraid,” she said. In addition to help with studying and preparing for mid-terms and finals, Ianna said, “It’s nice to get to know each other and build friendships with those outside of my own grade.” She plans on continuing as a leader as an eighth-grader next year.

Nicholas Wells, also a seventh-grade student serving as a junior leader, talked about the benefits of having the older students serve as role models and provide assistance with lockers, directions and studying. “It helped me want to join this year and help the incoming sixth graders. It’s great to make them (sixth graders) feel welcome and at home.”

So far this year, the students have hosted a fall festival in which the Bridge Crew welcomed approximately 50 sixth-grade students for pumpkin decorating, games and snacks. Their next event will be on December 9 for a “Winter Wonderland Gala” in which sixth graders will have the opportunity to paint holiday ornaments, play games and enjoy hot chocolate and snacks together.

William Floyd Middle School
William Floyd Middle School (WFMS) also hosts programming to help acclimate next year’s incoming sixth graders to the transition from elementary to middle school. Each March, WFMS hosts Showcase Night/Community Resource Fair in which all fifth-grade students who will attend WFMS are invited to see the great things that middle school students are doing every day in school and in afterschool activities. Then in April, WFMS hosts a parent orientation meeting to meet the leadership team and learn more about the school. In May, the leadership team visits each of the elementary schools in their catchment area to talk to fifth graders, followed by student building tours in June. Then in August, students and families are welcomed into the building for a student walkthrough and tour, all in an effort to ease the transition to middle school and provide the best learning experience possible for children

This press release was produced by the William Floyd School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.