WHAT DO YOU MEAN 5TH GRADE IS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL?!

Nothing can make parents shudder quite like the thought of their oldest child entering middle school. From generation to generation, this rite of passage has earned a reputation as one of the more challenging seasons for parents, leaving many savoring the lower school years.

So, it is not entirely surprising how often Wesleyan administrators are asked, “What do you mean fifth grade is in middle school?!”

“I tell parents all the time that we’ve yet to send any fifth graders back to fourth grade!” laughs Joseph Antonio, middle school principal. “We’ve found time and time again that students are ready to embrace the newfound responsibilities of middle school, and our fifth grade students step up and grow in ways that can sometimes be hard for parents to imagine at the start of the year.”

“We’ve found time and time again that students are ready to embrace the newfound responsibilities of middle school, and our fifth grade students step up and grow in ways that can sometimes be hard for parents to imagine at the start of the year.”

Joseph Antonio, middle school principal

FIFTH GRADE FAMILIES REFLECT

“We are very pleased with Jayden’s fifth grade experience. Moving up to middle school is a big transition, and doing it a year earlier and easing them into it helps remove some of the anxiety. Jayden had a very smooth transition and continues to be really excited about middle school.”

Serene and Chee Wee Gan, parents to Jayden Gan ‘29

While placing fifth grade in middle school is not unique to Wesleyan, the model is not common; however, middle school at Wesleyan has included fifth through eighth grade since 1996 when Wesleyan moved to the Peachtree Corners campus.

One of Wesleyan School’s goals is to support students as they grow into independent learners. Aligning opportunities for independence with students’ development in the final years of childhood begins in the final years of lower school and continues as students enter middle school.

“As fifth graders, students are developmentally ready for a greater independence and responsibility,” shares Antonio. “This age group is also typically still excited and engaged with all that is new and fun in middle school.

“Additionally, educators know that there is a direct correlation between learning and positive relationships. When we can build a solid, relational foundation with students, we increase their learning potential in both the current school year and in the years to come as they move through the rest of middle school.”

Whether it be giggling in the hallways with faculty members, joining a grade level Bible study, or simply engaging more in the classroom with their teachers, fifth graders tend to be more open to connect with adults. By taking advantage of this “extra” year in middle school, the middle school faculty builds meaningful relationships with these students before they enter the years of adolescence when many start to seek counsel and affirmation from peers instead of the adults in their lives.

“The transition to middle school was nothing but beneficial for our son as he likes to be constantly challenged,” says Daniela Andreica, mom to Dominick Manea ‘29.

“When we can build a solid, relational foundation with students, we increase their learning potential in both the current school year and in the years to come.”

Joseph Antonio, middle school principal

“From a logistical standpoint, it has been a great opportunity to figure out strategies for navigating from one class to another, organizing materials for each class, and managing time between classes.

“Socially, the structure of fifth grade and changing classes puts students in a position to meet new people which means more potential friends, and that was very exciting for Dominick,” Andreica goes on to say.

“We recognize this is a big shift for students,” says Laura Archer, fifth grade girls chair. “Between receiving their Wesleyan-issued laptop, having lockers, managing the rotating daily schedule, and enjoying more freedom during the school day, there is a lot to manage. Our fifth grade team works to be as intentional as possible to set students up for success in middle school.”

That preparation, it turns out, starts long before students’ fifth grade year.

“Throughout lower school, students have heard from their teachers that first and foremost, their identity is found in Christ,” says Dr. Jason Erb, lower school principal. “We emphasize with our students, particularly as they progress through lower school, that mistakes do not define them but that we hope they will embrace them as opportunities to learn.”

“Students tend to be less hesitant to try new things or experiences when they aren’t afraid of messing up,” says Acacia Kelly, fourth grade chair. “We certainly layer additional personal responsibility in the final years of lower school, but our goal is to do that in the context of where their identity rests. It always makes me so proud to see how much our students grow in lower school, and from a fourth grade perspective, we get the privilege to see that final year of growth and preparation before they move onto even greater responsibility and new experiences in middle school.” Once students begin fifth grade, the fifth grade teaching team has a series of initiatives in place to help make them successful. One of those first steps is an orientation to Wesleyan’s one-to-one laptop program for middle and high school students.

“We do a deep dive into the functionality of the laptops, as well as how to use the various Microsoft applications students will need to complete homework and projects and to communicate with their teachers,” says Paige Burgess, fifth grade science teacher, who starts each year with a unit on computer skills.

“In addition to helping them understand how to save files, we cover basic email etiquette and how to use PowerPoint. Since teachers use OneNote for homework and notes, we do a deep dive into that program so students know where to find their electronic notes and assignments.”

FIFTH GRADE FAMILIES REFLECT

“We think beginning middle school in fifth grade was a blessing as it really helped our daughter transition to Wesleyan because all the children, even those who attended lower school at Wesleyan, were starting a “new” school. Everyone was in the same boat, and she didn’t feel out of place as she learned about her new surroundings. She has clearly shown a new confidence that we believe comes from the responsibility of being in middle school, and we think most kids rise to the occasion when given proper guidance. Our daughter knows everyone in fifth grade, which is a testament to how well the Wesleyan faculty integrates new students and helps them fit in.”

Jessica and Rob Bohn, parents to Ann-Harmon Bohn ‘29

“I hear from parents all the time about things their fifth graders teach them about how to do special functions in Microsoft products,” laughs Burgess. “These parents have been using some of these programs for decades, and within a week or so of using them for school, their children are teaching them shortcuts and other functionalities they had no idea existed!”

Burgess also covers using good judgment online and how the school’s filtering programs are in place to help students focus on school and steward their time and resources. The goal of this short unit is to give students the skills they need to use their laptops to support their coursework and to help them make wise choices online.

In addition to computer skills, all fifth grade students also participate in a nine-week life skills class taught by Sean Nestor, middle school counselor. During this class, students cover everything from time management and study skills that best support their learning type to social skills and personal hygiene. “For our male students, we even spend time practicing how to tie their chapel ties for Thursdays,” says Nestor. “I tend to get a lot of thank you emails from parents after that skill has been mastered!”

An exciting aspect of entering middle school is increased extracurricular opportunities. From theater productions to sports teams to service opportunities, fifth graders enjoy a variety of options throughout the school year to be involved in the life of the school.

From theater productions to sports teams to service opportunities, fifth graders enjoy a variety of options throughout the school year to be involved in the life of the school.

“Fifth grade has some, but not all, extracurricular options available,” explains Robert Holmes, fifth grade boys chair. “As our students are adjusting to life in middle school and all the extra responsibility that comes with that transition, they can begin to sample after school activities. Their options increase each year as students move through middle school with all athletics and fine arts opportunities available when they reach seventh grade.”

“The Wesleyan middle school experience is often described as an environment with high expectations and high support,” says Antonio. “Our goal is for that environment to begin on day one – including at the very beginning of fifth grade. When we give students increased responsibility and expectations, coupled with support from a loving, skilled faculty, we set them up to flourish not just in fifth grade and middle school, but for many years to come.”

“When we give students increased responsibility and expectations, coupled with support from a loving, skilled faculty, we set them up to flourish not just in fifth grade and middle school, but for many years to come.”

Joseph Antonio, middle school principal