A few of the mornings last week I lingered on the Wornall campus a little longer after dropping off my kiddos in the Early Childhood and Primary buildings. I enjoyed invigoratingly cold walks across the courtyard to the Intermediate building, where I met three poised and knowledgeable 8th grade girls. Together we journeyed up to the 5th grade hallway, greeted by excited students. I think it felt a little like being a rock star :) I did my best to jokingly encourage them to keep up the royal treatment next year!
I love visiting the 5th grade students at the end of the winter, when we're frustrated with the cold and clouds. It's like bringing back the energy of the first week of school all over again. Nervous excitement, readiness for change and new people to meet - great combination if you ask a school counselor!
I began the lesson by sharing the "Secrets of Success" in Middle School, based on the 4 things 8th grade teachers know to be the marks of readiness for the Upper School. This information can be found in the PowerPoint I used with the students: Success in Middle School. It is clear these students are ready as they gave great answers to the discussion questions. The 8th graders concluded the lesson by sharing a video they made with the help of 6th grade teachers and 6th grade students: Transition to Middle School Video. They also served as a student panel, answering the questions of the 5th graders and did a fantastic job!
One of the greatest things about the middle school, is that we also have the opportunity to help support students as they move to the Upper School! The 8th grade students recently had lunch with Upper School students from the LINC crew, who serve as mentors for the underclassmen. 8th graders brainstormed their questions in advisory, so those could be given to the US students ahead of time. Additionally, Kathy Lamb, upper school counselor, and I have been meeting to ensure our programs are aligned and working toward the same goals. She is a fabulous resource for our kids as they enter 9th grade!
The 6th grade leadership group has wrapped up. These future leaders did a wonderful job working to define what a leader is and what an effective leader looks like. They also put these leadership skills into practice through fun games and challenging activities. It's not surprising to hear that the values of Respect, Compassion, and Integrity were found to be central to strong leadership.
Things are moving and shaking in the 7th grade too! Today we talked together about stereotypes and bias as it relates to the world of work. Students were asked to write down or draw what they first picture when they hear certain job titles. We discussed that though we are not immune to bias, we can acknowledge it and chose not to honor it. Everyone was encouraged to approach Career Kaleidoscope with this type of open mind as they hear the various professionals coming to speak to them tomorrow.
Here's to an exciting day of new experiences and knowledge tomorrow and to a great 4th Quarter!
