New kids on Campus! : Checking in with our Freshmen

“I swear I was just starting 6th grade a second ago…” The words of one student sum up the general sentiment amongst freshmen at ASF. We are officially six weeks into the new school year, and while students in every grade have been adjusting back into old routines, arguably none have had a bigger transition than our freshmen. During these first few weeks, some kids have struggled to find their classes and memorize locker numbers, but it seems that the ninth graders are quickly adjusting and getting into the swing of things. To hear how they've been settling in, a survey was conducted to give a glimpse into the mindset of the class of 2029!

When asked how they felt about meeting the academic demands of the Upper School, the freshmen agreed that it had been somewhat of a challenge: less than 15% say that they find coursework to be easy. Looking at individual responses, students who are taking more advanced classes tend to find the change from Middle to Upper school difficult, especially when it comes to workload. 

Notably, when asked on a scale of 1 through 5 how well they feel middle school prepared them for high school, around 38% of those surveyed placed their opinion at a 3. Perhaps this is a wake-up call to our Middle School to do more to ease ninth graders into this new environment, so they can feel confident by the time they walk through upper school doors. That being said, it's probably also up to the rising freshmen to start taking their academics more seriously as they finish up their middle school years, developing lasting habits and skills to stay organized. 

When it comes to school spirit, it's safe to say that Freshmen are ones to look out for! Although ninth graders just missed the honor of winning the golden chancla from the seniors in a super close call, there’s talk of a redemption in upcoming events. Watch out, seniors! Freshmen are coming back stronger than ever! During our recent El Grito celebrations, there were a lot of ninth graders participating in competitions and cheering their classmates from the crowd. Many are now getting involved in sports and clubs after school, taking on leadership positions and contributing to our community by taking on more active roles. Inside and outside of the classroom, the class of 2029 is making waves!

The transition from middle school to high school is a major milestone, a significant time of change, and it can be overwhelming for many. Taking into consideration the findings of the recent Freshmen Survey, as well as separate interviews with ninth graders around campus, it would seem as though ninth graders at ASF have managed to balance all of their responsibilities very nicely. It’s important to think about what else we can do to help rising freshmen in the future, but overall, students feel confident and capable when they arrive at the upper school, and that is the most important thing!