Our Wildwood, Winter 2018, Volume 42

Parents, too, have the opportunity to get a glimpse and prepare themselves for the differences their children will experience in middle school. Wildwood’s annual fall Step Into Middle School event gives elementary school parents an opportunity to meet the 6th grade teachers and middle school administrators, see examples of curriculum and student work, and tour the middle and upper campus. For students and families entirely new to Wildwood, individual attention by staff, a host family, and peer support help make the transition successful. It’s informal but intentional. Becca has taught many 6th graders who are new to Wildwood and enjoys watching their surprise at discovering the Wildwood way. “What strikes them the most,” she says, “is how they feel seen and heard by the adults here—that it’s almost impossible to fall through the cracks.” To Josie, the Wildwood way is about community. The middle and upper campus “looks and feels different,” she says, “but there’s that same sense of community here as there is at elementary.” Sixth grader Giacomo C. knew he was seen and heard by his new community on his first day at Wildwood this year. Coming from a Los Angeles public school, he was fearful of not knowing anyone and feeling lost. “People were really friendly to me, and by the end of my first day,” Giacomo says, “I knew so many new people. I think I’m going to like it here.” WW

“People were really friendly to me, and by the end of the first day I knew so many people. I think I’m going to like it here.”

—GIACOMO C., 6TH GRADE

1. Madjar, Nir and Chohat, Ronny. “Will I succeed in middle school? A longitudinal analysis of self-efficacy in school transitions in relation to goal structures and engagement.” Educational Psychology 37, No. 6 (2017). Accessed November 14, 2017. ERIC.