Grade 5 students at Island Pacific Academy recently had the opportunity to hear directly from students who have already made the transition to middle school.
During a joint guidance session, both Grade 5 classes met with current sixth graders to talk about what students can expect in the year ahead. The session was organized by Elementary School Counselor Tori Rooke and Middle School Counselor Sara Baffoe as part of the school’s efforts to help students navigate the move from elementary to middle school.
Rooke meets with each elementary grade level for guidance lessons twice a month. This year, Baffoe has begun joining some of the Grade 5 sessions to help students become familiar with the middle school program and the people who will support them when they enter sixth grade.
The recent session brought both classes together for introductions, icebreaker activities, and an open conversation about middle school life. Grade 6 students shared their experiences and answered questions about schedules, expectations, and the differences students may notice as they move into the Secondary division.
“We’re working on being more intentional with our student transition as they go from fifth grade into sixth grade,” Baffoe said. “What better way to do that than having real sixth graders talk with our fifth graders and answer their questions based on their own experiences?”
The Grade 6 students who participated are part of Baffoe’s guidance class, which is offered as a quarter rotation alongside Japanese, Spanish, and ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i. In the course, students explore topics such as study skills, social-emotional learning, and leadership.
According to Baffoe, inviting sixth graders to participate in the session also helps them see themselves as mentors for younger students.
“It helps our sixth graders see themselves as leaders,” she said. “Next year they’ll be seventh graders, and they’ll be able to help support the new sixth graders.”
Island Pacific Academy has been placing increased emphasis on supporting students during the middle school years. A recently launched initiative, led by Elementary Principal Sa’o Faulkner and Secondary Principal Steve Ross, focuses on strengthening programs that support students’ academic, social, and emotional development from Grades 4 through 9.
The initiative includes expanded social-emotional learning, a dedicated Grade 6 guidance course, and partnerships with education specialists to support student development during the early adolescent years.
The school is also working to help families better understand the transition. Earlier this year, Grade 5 parents were invited to an informational evening, The Navigator’s Journey, where they met secondary leadership, learned about the middle and upper school curriculum, and heard from current students about their experiences.
For the Grade 5 students preparing to move up next year, the recent guidance session offered a simple but meaningful first step by hearing from students who have already been through it, and offering reassurance that, while middle school may bring new routines and responsibilities, it also comes with a community ready to support them.
