7th Grade

Over the past two weeks, I’ve visited all the Language Arts classroom (and thereby, every 7th grade student) to talk about the upcoming school year. I focused on several topics that I’ve noticed come up for all 7th graders first semester, as well as some new ones for this class.

• You’re in the middle of middle school. Last year I talked about middle school being the bridge between elementary school, where students where boys and girls, to high school, where students become young men and young women. This year, they are halfway through that process, and as a result there’s a good deal of turbulence during the course of the year.
• Mr. Powell, the 7th grade administrator, and I discussed what we thought 7th graders needed to know during this exciting time. We came up with preparation and expectation. Where 6th grade is an orientation to the world of middle school, 7th grade prepares you for 8th grade, the stepping-stone to hgih school. Organziation, homework, rules, social norms, rleationships with adults, and other areas are developed with an eye to nexxt year. As a result, when 8th grade hits, we have the expectation that students know the basics and can focus on the many skills they will need to hone to be ready for high school.
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Posted by Mr. Bilides at 08:15 PM. Filed under: Start of School •

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All 7th and 8th grade students new to Washington Middle School this coming school year are welcomed and encouraged to come to a New Student Orientation on Tuesday, September 1, from 10:00 am to noon, in the WMS lunchroom. Meet other students, ask your questions, find out important information about Washington, meet staff members, take a tour. Yes, there will be snacks!

This is a great chance to get a feel for the school and staff before everyone else arrives with you at the start of school on September 9. We warmly invite you to attend to event!

As expected, 7th Grade is off to a great start.  Last year as 6th Graders, this class was one of the most compassionate and supportive groups I have worked with.  They also had an infectious kind of energy that made the year very fun and exciting.  Now, these former 6th Graders have matured and grown and brought back those same characteristics that we loved last year.  My goal is for all 7th graders to continue to grow academically, personally and socially this year.

After two and a half weeks of schedule changes and adjustments, we are finally settling into schedules.  Students are in the classes they will be in for the semester, so now they can really focus on their goals for each class.  I am excited to work with this group again.  Watch out for this 7th Grade Class, they are a group of unique and talented individuals who will impact our lives in significant ways!