Last week, Monday through Wednesday, 290-plus eighth-grade students from Lincoln Junior High School spent two-hours each morning on tours at Plymouth High School. Lincoln High School administrators would like to thank LJHS counselor Audria De Lucenay for working with the counseling team at PHS to organize three flawless trips.
De Lucenay said the transitional period between junior high and high school can be a stressful time for students and parents alike. Therefore having time to explore allows soon-to-be incoming freshmen time to learn the ropes.
On the tour the soon-to-be eighth-grade graduates gained invaluable knowledge about what they will experience next year as students at PHS straight from current student leaders at PHS who have walked in their shoes. Plus, they also learned where some important places inside the building are located such as the lunchroom, nurse’s office, and front office.
The PHS counseling staff want students to know it is normal if a student who will be making the transition finds themselves feeling overwhelmed and confused as the time nears closer to the 2020-21 school year. The atmosphere is completely different and the academic standards of high school are higher. Research by the National Middle School Association (NMSA) shows students who participate in transition programs, such as this one, adjust more successfully to high school. Aimee Portteus, the director of guidance at PHS reminds students, “We are excited to welcome the class of 2024! We are planning several events to make sure students feel comfortable as they become part of our family!”
All Project Based Learning Innovation Academy @ LJHS students took the two-hour tour of PHS and Weidner School of Inquiry @ PHS on Monday along with their LJHS facilitators. The remaining Lincoln Jr. High traditional student body was divided in half for tours on Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at Plymouth High School. Once at PHS, eighth-grade students were put into small groups and Plymouth High School student leaders took students on tours. They stopped in the auditorium where a dozen or so PHS student leaders served on a panel to talk to the LJHS students about high school life.
LJHS would also like to thank the Plymouth High School guidance department and the team of PHS student leaders who helped lead tours and for making this opportunity possible.
Tips to help 8th-grade students with the transition to high school:
- Don’t get upset or frustrated if you don’t get the hang of your new school life immediately. Remember that things will quickly start to feel better as you attend classes every day and learn more about your new routine.
- Be sure to monitor your performance and keep an eye on periods where your performance starts to drop. Sometimes, this might be a sign that you’re not paying enough attention to school work, or that you aren’t organized enough. Sometimes, it may be a sign that you need to give yourself a break.
- Transitions are difficult, and the transition from jr. high to high school is a big one. Make your transition as comfortable as possible by trying out some of these tips, and remember to take a deep breath and know that you are not alone.
