Anonymous wrote:I'm not going to lie to you: It blows.

Signed, father of 6th and 8th grade dds.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't send my kid to that school, especially now that the principal and assistant principal got fired. Reputations are one thing, reality is another.

What are you talking about? No one got fired.

They both got fired. The P is being allowed to resign, the AP is going to be a teacher at the HS.

Wrong at least about the assistant principal, he is moving out of the area due to divorce (ex left area so he is moving to be close to daughter).

Sorry but that's wrong, it's the principal who said he was moving to be near his daughter, but the truth is he was allowed to resign due to his mishandling of the math teacher who molested kids and copped a plea deal. The AP will go back to teaching so he must have had some involvement as well.

Like other PPs, my kids' middle school experience has been nothing like mine.

DS and I were listening to a This American Life podcast about middle school, in which all the people were talking about how difficult it was. DS's response (then in 6th grade) was that this isn't at all what MS is like for him. He'd made a bunch of new friends, his classes were fine, didn't like one teacher but the others were ok, homework wasn't too bad. He liked changing classes.

I worried more about DD, who is a quieter kid and a bit nerdy/quirky. She had a rough first 4-6 weeks getting a hang of the schedule, exacerbated by having to make some changes to her schedule, but she remained tight friends with her two BFFs from ES and they added a couple more girls to their circle. I've heard other moms complain about the drama with their girls in 6th grade but my DD says she has no tolerance for that and just stays out of it. Bullying doesn't seem to be a big issue at their school.

All that to say, don't put any expectations on your kid. Assume it will go well but be a good listener and a shoulder to cry on when there are issues. Do expect some tension in the first weeks as they get used to the switching classes, keeping tracking of assignments, lockers, etc. For both of mine, that aspect of the transition was much more of an issue than interpersonal stuff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't send my kid to that school, especially now that the principal and assistant principal got fired. Reputations are one thing, reality is another.

What are you talking about? No one got fired.

They both got fired. The P is being allowed to resign, the AP is going to be a teacher at the HS.

Wrong at least about the assistant principal, he is moving out of the area due to divorce (ex left area so he is moving to be close to daughter).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't send my kid to that school, especially now that the principal and assistant principal got fired. Reputations are one thing, reality is another.

What are you talking about? No one got fired.

They both got fired. The P is being allowed to resign, the AP is going to be a teacher at the HS.

Post your source. This is absolutely false.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't send my kid to that school, especially now that the principal and assistant principal got fired. Reputations are one thing, reality is another.

What are you talking about? No one got fired.

They both got fired. The P is being allowed to resign, the AP is going to be a teacher at the HS.

She is not you, now is not then. I too, had a horrible school experience. Literally kindergarten through 12th. Had I had access to a gun, either I'd be dead or half my school would be.

My daughter CHOOSES to wear glasses. She has braces. We are poor. And yet. DD is in 8th grade and has many good friends. The one time she got a black eye it was done by a friend, by accident, and he felt awful and apologized four times. She is in student government, track, and the Gay Straight Alliance. She gets all A's, and except for 6th grade when she had to adjust to the workload, comes by them easily. She is biologically related to me, but living a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT life.

Your daughter is not you.

KEEP HER BUSY!!!! no time for drama

DD is in 6th grade now. When asked, she will say she really likes school, and her friends are clearly important to her. She has gotten very good grades, and likes most of her classes. But in many ways, she is also a hot mess. I never expected to be having hygiene battles at this age, she is trying out different personas, and some of her personas are too damn mouthy, she is moody, puts off school work until the last minute, and then makes the whole house crazy the night before it is due, doesn't' get enough sleep, is eating us out of house and home, is always late. She vacillates wildly between teenager and toddler in her behavior.
I think most of this is normal, but it is exhausting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not every middle school stinks. Look at some private middle schools.

IDK, with the hygiene at that age, they all stink.

Ha- I was thinking something along these lines! Also its not the schools that make MS suck, its um, the middle schoolers!

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't send my kid to that school, especially now that the principal and assistant principal got fired. Reputations are one thing, reality is another.

What are you talking about? No one got fired.

I wouldn't send my kid to that school, especially now that the principal and assistant principal got fired. Reputations are one thing, reality is another.

Focus on the positive, OP.

Middle school is a chance to make new friends, to take a more interesting mix of subjects, to pick a few electives she'd like to try, and to have a little bit more independence. Sell MS as a good change, not a bad change.

Sure, middle school can be a tough socially but we parents don't have to make it worse. Listen to her fears, but refuse to add to them. She'll make the transition just fine, and you will, too. Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:I remember middle school as the worst years of my life. I was smart but conventionally unattractive, shy and had few friends. I was even attacked in a stairwell (probably attempted sexual assault, but I escaped). And this was in what was considered a great school district.

My daughter starts middle school in the fall and I am terrified for her. She's smart and kind of nerdy - wears glasses as I did. Likes being unconventional. She does have a number of friends though as she has a great personality.

What worked for you or your kids when transitioning? I am willing to get her contact lenses, help her buy a few "cool" clothes.

Thanks!

A lot of the issues are not as much of a problem as it was for us. Bullying is way down from my days (and probably your days). Sexual harassment happens, but it is not as acceptable as it was...FCC should be ok. We are in FCPS. Middle school sucked for DD; but she survived.

Anonymous wrote:Not every middle school stinks. Look at some private middle schools.

IDK, with the hygiene at that age, they all stink.