"We want to remove some of the barriers that can become giant size with worrying," Jessamine County Superintendent Lu Young said. "This helps them to overcome some of their fears before school begins and makes the transition much smoother."
One concern many students and parents have is the mix of younger sixth grade students with older seventh and eighth grade students.
At East Middle, the sixth grade classes are at one end of the building and separated from the seventh and eighth grade classes by the cafeteria which is in the center of the building.
Health aid Katy McCracken said just getting to walk the inside of the building and seeing where everything and everyone is located takes the edge off and makes the students feel more comfortable about beginning the new year.
Over the last 10 years McCracken has seen a drop in the number of transition problems because of Middle School 101.
Parents can drop their children off at 9 a.m. and pick them up at 12 p.m. after they eat lunch.
Middle School 101 for parents
This year for the first time, East Middle will be offering Middle School 101 for parents from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Aug. 9.
The idea for doing a program for parents had been talked about for some time, East Middle Councilor Joni White said.
"The parents sometimes have as many questions about the transition to middle school as their children," White said. "We are trying to be proactive by showing them around the building, letting them meet their child's teacher and just ease some of their fears."
White said different stations will be set up around the building where parents can learn more about the various stages of development such as cognitive, social, emotional and physical that their children are going through.
"We want to help them learn what to expect from the junior high years," White said. "We want to help them to help their student to adjust to middle school and make the transition easier."
A eat and greet will be from 5:30 to 6 p.m., where parents can meet and talk to teachers and administrators.
No preregistration for the event is nescessary. Interested people can just show up at the school, White said.
Parents who bring in the card that the school mailed them advertising the event will be eligible for prize drawings.
For more information contact East Middle School at 885-5561.
