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8 Alumni Visit the Oldest Group on Election Day
Oldest Group alums, Jake H. (Strath Haven Middle School), Donovan B. (Springton Lake Middle School), Jackie R. (E.T. Richardson Middle School) and Maude K. (Strath Haven Middle School) joined the class this week to talk about their experience in their new schools. The biggest message that they wanted to give to present OG students was "Don't worry, you'll do fine. It might seem scary and confusing at first but, in no time at all, you'll feel comfortable."
The alums also expressed that their worries about making friends turned out to be unfounded. "I have my friends that I knew from my baseball league," said Jake "and I've made tons of new ones too." "I didn't know anyone before I started school," said Jackie, "but now I have lots of friends. It's really great." Maude, who has also made good new friends at her school, noted that she has now become good friends wither her next-door neighbor despite his being a boy.
Each alum said that they really like their new school and now, after this much time, they don't miss Rose Valley so much. "I feel like I really belong to my new school now," said one. "Rose Valley will always be a place I love but I like my new school now."
One piece of advice that was agreed upon by all was "Stay true to yourself in your new school. You will find people like you or people who can respect you. You do not have to change who you are or how you act or how you dress to fit in!"
As far as Homework was concerned, the strong advice was not to worry about that too. "Don't think you need to do lots of homework this year to get ready for next year. Enjoy it now and you will easily adjust later." Jake pointed out that, even though he has football practice every day after school, he still gets his homework completed each day.
When asked by a sixth grader how they were doing academically, all said that things were going really well. Jackie thinks math is too easy in her school and she is doing the same work as she did at SRV. Donovan just doesn't like how repetitive and boring math is at this new school but he thinks he is doing fine. Donovan loves his language arts teacher. Jake loves his math teacher and thinks math is fun. Maude, who has the same teacher as Jake, does not think math is interesting enough and worries that she is not doing as well as she should.
On another interesting note: Jake has been chosen by his school to Be a peer mediator. This is a new, experimental program at Strath Haven Middle School. Rather than taking all peer conflicts to the assistant principal, kids will be sent to work out solutions together with a peer mediator. Sound familiar?
Other alums came to visit later in the day. By lunch time, there were eight alums on campus! Sanj and Anup S. (Springton Lake Middle School), Daniel B. (Strath Haven Middle School) and Haley M. (The Philadelphia School) all spent some time with us. Quite a crowd (they all look so big!).
