Final Stretch

Wow!  Mid-May sure got here fast!  I doesn't seem right that it's time to wrap the year up, but amazingly it is.  However, wrapping up doesn't always mean slowing down - things are hopping in the counseling office!

I have been thoroughly enjoying my afternoon visits with the 5th grade students.  I am talking with each one of them for a few minutes.  They are all quite excited to have more freedom and to have classes with new friends.  There is some nervousness about finding their way around and adjusting to middle school.  I hope they feel better when I tell them that we don't expect them to arrive to middle school already knowing how to be a middle-schooler!  I will continue visiting them this week and then return the last week of school to share the exciting news of who they will have as their adviser next year!

Today our current advisory groups will learn who will be joining them next year and working to make the cards that we will use to welcome our new students.  I am very much looking forward to serving as an adviser next year.  I will have students from our current 7th grade leading the way with this new advisory and we will welcome new students from outside PHS and the lower school into our group.  It is going to be a great adventure!

Mrs. Tuncten and I spent the last week stopping by 7th and 8th grade social studies classes.  During these short visits we talked with students about tips for studying for finals and how to plan their time.  Additionally advisers have talked with their students about preparing.  I have been encouraging students to study early in the day, know what they need to study, stay focused during study time and get to bed at a time that allows them a good night's sleep.

I have been lucky to spend quite a bit of time with the 8th grade recently before they head off to the Upper School.  I am visiting their English classes today to work on writing letters to their future selves.  These letters will be given back to them at the time of their high school graduation.  We will mail letters to students who change schools.  It should be really fun to read them again four years from now!

Lastly, I feel like I can't let the year end without a sincere thank you to all of you for your warm welcome, kind words and continual shows of support.  This is an amazing school to be a part of and I am so very grateful to be able to say I am a Raider!