Students deal with first day of school transitions

Rick Charmoli | Cadillac News Bryant Molitor licks his finger after taking a bite of his pizza during lunch at Lake City Middle School during the first day of school. Wednesday marked BryantŐs first day as a sixth-grader.

LAKE CITY - For some students, the first day of school can be scary.

At the elementary level, kindergartners deal with the new experience of going to school. At the high school level, freshmen deal with being the low man on the totem pole after being top dog in middle school as eighth-graders.

For sixth-grade students, the first day of middle school is the combination of the two.

Whether it is changing classes every hour or having the opportunity to try different things, the first day of school for sixth-graders is an exciting transition.

Lake City started classes Wednesday and new sixth-grader Bryant Molitor was excited about the opportunities it presented.

“It's a lot different than elementary school. You get to do more stuff and you switch classes,” he said. “I was very nervous because it was my first day at middle school and I didn't know what it would be like.”

Lake City Middle School Principal Dave Swanson said the district has things in place to help students ease into the transition.

The process started last spring when students came to the middle school as fifth-graders to get a tour. It also allowed parents to come to the school and ask questions.

Although the school offers tours and provides an overview of the next three years, Swanson said he knows there are still worries by the students as well as parents.

“I think it is a mindset that they are no longer little kids. I think there are some growing pains for parents knowing their little boy or little girl is growing up,” he said. “I would definitely say it is a transition.”

Regardless of the worries, Meggan Martin was enjoying her transition.

The new sixth-grader said she thought her new school was “cool.”

“I like switching classes the best. So far my favorite class is Mr. (Doug) Petrosky's (social studies) class,” she said. “He is funny and he makes me laugh.”

rcharmoli@cadillacnews.com | 775-NEWS (6397)