Welcoming Middle School

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By Innas Alhazaz

As the new school year begins, students are starting various stages of their lives and adjusting to new experiences. Some students entering middle school shared their thoughts on their new environments.
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Among them was Farah, a new student, who expressed her excitement about her first year in an Islamic school, contrasting it with her experiences in both public and private schools. She stated her preference for PVS, highlighting the positive environment compared to her former public school. Farah appreciated the use of lockers, which alleviated the burden of carrying unnecessary books, but she noted her annoyance with the high school students' behavior towards middle schoolers. Her twin brother, Zackariya, shared his enjoyment of sixth grade, particularly the school's second floor and elevator as well as the combined lunch and recess that allowed him to play soccer. He praised his teachers for their unwavering support and rated the school five stars.

Tasneem Hajjeh, a returning student, provided thoughtful reflections on her transition to middle school, describing her initial struggles and eventual adaptation to the new environment. She noted the increased independence required in middle school, including managing her time effectively to avoid being tardy. However, she expressed concerns about the heavier homework load and the complexity of new subjects compared to her previous, easier elementary school experience.

Rola is enthusiastic about her transition to middle school. She appreciates the kindness of her teachers; however, she finds the substantial amount of homework to be a common source of frustration among students. Rola expressed her concerns regarding the excessive homework, which consumes a significant portion of her time at home, contrasting it with her previous experience in elementary school where the workload was considerably lighter. One of Rola's favorite aspects of middle school is having her locker.

Luqman is having an enjoyable year with his friends and teachers as he spends time with them often. One aspect he appreciates about middle school is the absence of teachers during lunch and recess, which allows him greater freedom compared to elementary school, where supervision is constant. However, he and several other sixth graders have expressed concerns about the presence of high school students, whom Luqman finds bothersome due to their tendency to argue and push younger students.

Meanwhile, Yusuf, a new student at PVS, along with Farah and her twin brother Zackariya, have made notable comparisons between his previous public school and PVS. He values the prayer time provided for students and enjoys listening to Br. Omar's khateras, relishing the company of his supportive friends and teachers, marked the start of his journey in a Muslim private school.

These reflections from the sixth graders highlight the diverse experiences of new and returning students as they navigate their first days in a new school year. Each of these students has unique insights and hopes for the year ahead, and their ability to connect their past school experiences with their current environment at PVS is particularly motivating. These students are not merely sixth graders; they represent the future. They possess a clear vision of what they hope to achieve at PVS and are determined to pursue it.