New opportunities, new challenges for middle schoolers this year

Anticipating the start of a new school year, parents and students gathered Tuesday afternoon in the Maricopa High School multi-purpose room to “orient” themselves to the campus and set-up. Sixth-grade orientation was especially important for the group this year as that grade level will no longer be in the elementary schools, but in the middle school instead.

While there are a few drawbacks, such as tighter schedules and less chance of landing “first choice” classes each period, Principal Stephanie Sharp enthusiastically highlighted several of the advantages of integrating 6th graders with their elder peers.

Students wait eagerly in line to pick up their class schedules.

Math teacher Shannon Hull sells school spirit t-shirts to students.

Megan Loresto (left) and Shelby Sharp show their school spirit while helping with t-shirt sales.

“It’s really two-fold,” Sharp said. “First of all, the social opportunities are increased – clubs, free tutoring programs, extra-curricular activities… and the honors courses that will now be offered to 6th graders are outstanding.” Several sections of honors reading, as well as math, will enable more advanced students to excel without being held back by peers needing extra assistance. Essentially, instead of being taught to “grade level,” they are being taught to “skill level.” Students at all three grade levels may be combined in the same class based on placement scores, allowing for students who may be struggling to receive the assistance they need without feeling pressured by more advanced students feeling unchallenged.

A temporary hiring freeze has been placed on the school district, which may cause some potential difficulty in starting the school year off without a hitch. The middle school is short nearly nine teachers. “If the hiring freeze holds, I will be forced to start the school year with subs,” Sharp said. Enrollment for middle school last year was at 390; school officials now say the number this year is close to 890. “And we just picked up 30 more kids yesterday,” Sharp added. Language Arts has the greatest teacher shortage.

To compensate for lack of classroom space, eight teachers have volunteered to travel; while they do not have their own classroom space, they are given a cart with wheels to transport their “desk” from place to place. Middle school math instructor Shannon Hull is optimistic about pushing her cart from the gymnasium stage to the partitioned cafeteria and wherever else she needs to set up her makeshift classroom. “Because of our mobility issues, we were also given laptops, which most of the traveling teachers are excited about.”

Middle school staff members (above and below) were introduced to the students.

The Panther Spirit Line “kicked” of f orientation with a cheer.

The middle school hopes to find a more permanent home in their brand-new building on Honeycutt Road in mid-November. With more than 45 classrooms and four outfitted computer labs, the new building’s size indicates Maricopa’s growth. “We’re trying to build a sense of ownership in these kids now, so they will know they’re going into a school built just for them,” Hull explained.

Several new policies have made communication between parents and teachers easier. Students are given an 8×10 agenda, somewhat like a syllabus, with the assignments and schedule given for each day. When each assignment is turned in, the child receives a stamp in their agenda next to the assignment given. Parents are able to see what homework was incomplete. Honors courses, including Spanish, art, chorus, dance, Spirit Line and fitness training offer unprecedented opportunities for students who apply themselves.

Most of the question and answer session related to the dress code. Through a humorous display of bad dress code examples, presented by eighth grade students Travis Sharp and Dara Fife, school officials eased tension over inappropriate clothing standards. Hoodies, or sweatshirts with attached hoods, will not be permitted this year. “We’ve had more trouble with hoodies, mostly with students text messaging test answers from the front pockets, and, literally cutting holes inside the hoods – very intricate work – to sew in their headphone wires. We don’t have time to be distracted from the primary focus of education to ask kids to take off their hoodies,” Sharp explained to one parent who said it was nearly impossible to find clothing for her child that didn’t have the forbidden hoodie.

District Disciplinarian Enos Jordan humorously demonstrates dress code standards with the help of student Travis Sharp.

Travis Sharp with his baggie jeans, headphones and “shades” and Dara Fife with her bare midriff and low cut shirt demonstrate “inappropriate” school attire.

Principal Stephanie Sharp (center) was available to answer questions following Tuesday’s orientations.

Sixth graders expressed mixed reaction about learning alongside their elder peers. Lynette Murguia was looking forward to the freedom of not having to walk in line to the lunchroom, referring to former elementary days, while Jordan Osgood was definitely feeling anxious about being “picked on.” Luci Tuerr, mother of a 6th grade daughter, expressed her feelings about the grade merge. “Erika is very happy about not having to wear uniforms. And she’s also excited to be challenged through the honors classes offered here.”

Seventh and 8th grade orientation was held separately, announcing that tennis would be one of the top three sports to be added once funding is available. The new school facility already has tennis courts in anticipation of its addition. Middle school football will start the first day of school, and, depending on the number of students interested, has the potential of being split into teams based on grade level. A Booster Club meeting will be held August 2 to discuss fundraising for teams.

This school year, set to begin August 8, promises many changes and opportunities for Maricopa Wells Middle School students.