7th Skipped a Year

By: Liliana Chavez

This year’s 7th graders skipped a year! 2020, 6th graders participated in online schooling for their first middle school year. These ASK Scholars unfortunately missed out in many 6th grade learning activities and socialization with new people. 

This year’s 7th grade scholars are getting the full experience of middle school for the first time. Due to the pandemic, 6th and 7th graders are having similar adventures. While 6th graders are transitioning in an isolated-small community, 7th graders are learning new middle school skills in a larger community.

Such experiences include making new lifetime friends and interacting with new people. 7th grade scholar, Kate Hendricks, is social and did not find middle school friends until this school year. Similarly, this year’s 6th and 7th grade scholars are building new middle school friendships.

7th grade scholar, Ariana Chavez, was taught through Edgenuity last year and has never participated in any middle school projects or events. She states that this year is her first experience with middle school socialization and activities. Other 7th grade scholars also feel the same, because they are experiencing memorable events that otherwise would have occurred previously. 

Some 7th graders feel that the transition from elementary to middle school could have been easier if last school year was ordinary. Others feel that online schooling has smoothed the pathway to middle school. Educational wise, there are mixed opinions on whether online schooling helped the transition.

This school year’s 6th and 7th graders are in the same boat socially, but academically, 7th graders are more prepared for upcoming challenges. Despite the social setbacks 7th graders are experiencing, they are happy to be back in person and fully experiencing campus interactions and festivities.

Liliana Chavez is a 9th grade writer for the ASK Academy newspaper, The ASK Catalyst. 

Email:  lchavez@theaskacademy.org