‘All-around great atmosphere’

Transition to middle school no problem, says current Notre Dame student who is looking forward to eighth-grade science.

After five or six years in an elementary- or lower-school environment, many students as well as their parents look upon the transition to middle school with more than just a little trepidation. And it isn’t only about social anxiety. As early as the 1960s, researchers were conducting studies on what many educators believed was a general decline in academic performance as students made the leap into middle school.

In a report titled “Transition Into Middle School” by Emmett R. Mullins and Judith L. Irvin, which cited Finger and Silverman’s work in 1966 that studied some 489 young adolescents during the transition to middle-level schools, researchers found a general decline in academic achievement for a majority of students.

More recent studies also confirmed what Mullins and Irvin concluded about such a transition for children who at the same time are experiencing the often stressful personal transition into adolescence and early adulthood. 

For current Notre Dame sixth grader Andrew Fraser, his move to middle school in the fall also likely was fraught with a little fear of the unknown. Even though he’s well familiar with Notre Dame given his lower school experience in Waterford and then later in the newer Pontiac LS building, still, making such a transition can make any fifth grader a little anxious.

Fortunately, says Fraser, it has been no problem at all. In fact, he says he’s got a new favorite class, looks forward to Irish Week and beating the eighth graders, and is amazed at how easy it is to make new friends in the middle school. 

But let’s let this baseball-playing member of the middle-school chorus answer a few questions about his Notre Dame experience thus far and how he handles it — all with a very full load of classes. . .

Why do you like attending school at Notre Dame?
I get to learn from great teachers. I also really like the students. It’s just an all-around great atmosphere. 

What is a big advantage of the middle division over the lower division?
I loved the lower division, but so far I am also enjoying the middle division because for one thing, I like switching classrooms after every period. It’s great to be able to go to my locker and grab what I need for my next class.

What three words would you use to describe your Notre Dame experience so far?
I would have to say amazing, creative and enthusiastic.

Which class that you’ve had so far in sixth grade do you like the best?
Definitely Spanish. Señora [Marisol] Aguilar is a great teacher. I took Spanish for five years at the lower division, but this is the most enjoyable experience I’ve had with this subject.

Which class do you most look forward to in the seventh or eighth grades? 
Science. I’ve heard great things about Mr. [David] Heeringa, so I am looking forward to taking his class when I get to the eighth grade.

What would you say is the most fun you’ve had so far this year?
It was the dance we had at the beginning of the school year. I enjoyed it a lot because I got to meet new students and hang out with my friends.

What specific middle division experience are you most looking forward to?
Irish Week! I know the eighth grade is expected to win this, but I think it would be cool for the sixth graders to earn bragging rights.

Have you made many new friends at Notre Dame since coming to the middle division?
It’s been easy to make friends at Notre Dame because everyone is nice. Pretty much all you have to do is talk to someone and they become your friend. 

Are you involved in many extracurricular things at Notre Dame? 
Yes, I’m so glad I’m getting involved in extracurricular activities at Notre Dame because it gives me the chance to spend more time with my friends. Some of the activities are coached or supervised by teachers, and that helps me get to know them better, too. I really like playing baseball for Notre Dame Marist Academy.

So how do you balance everything you are involved in at Notre Dame?
Because I stay organized I’m able to balance schoolwork, sports, clubs and activities at Notre Dame. I keep track of my time by keeping a planner and creating a daily schedule.

Why do think Notre Dame is good fit for you?
Notre Dame has been a great fit for me because it basically is a nice, warm environment that feels like home. Plus, I know that I can always get assistance and support from teachers and students. Also, as far as advice for a current fifth grader who is coming to the middle division, the best I can say is do not be afraid! The teachers are really nice and help you get adjusted.

Anything more you can say about Notre Dame?
Sure, the teachers here are caring, the students seem to be grateful they’re at the school and the opportunities at Notre Dame are irresistible!

More about Notre Dame's middle division is here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.

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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy

Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.