We know that when our students transition between building levels – into the junior high schools or into the senior high school – it can be an exciting and sometimes anxiety-provoking change. When students move to a new level, there are always new opportunities and new challenges. It is normal to feel a little apprehensive when our child is moving to a new school, but it is our desire to help our students, and their families, navigate these changes as smoothly as possible. As we help our students prepare for these transitions, please feel free to contact your child’s counselor with any questions you have. We hope the information we’ve made available on this page will help you. We understand that families sometimes have individual situations or special considerations, and we are happy to meet with you or talk on the phone to help you and your child feel comfortable with the transition ahead.

Transition to the junior high schools

The move to the junior high school level is an exciting opportunity for our students. There are some new demands placed on students, too. Students change classes and have more teachers to interact with. They have lockers and move independently in the hallway between classes. Students may find that they are expected to be a bit more independent and responsible and that they may have a little more homework than in the past. There will also be lots of new opportunities for students – athletics and extra-curricular activities. They’ll have a new and bigger school building to explore and get comfortable with. And new friends. It can seem like a lot to take in for some students. It is very important to keep the lines of communication with school open during this transition. We’ll be working in school to help prepare them. If you have any questions, please let us know!

Overview of junior high school transition activities

• In the winter, intermediate counselors will give a presentation to all 6^th grade students centered on the transition to junior high school. Topics covered include discussion of what a typical day looks like in the junior high, what 7^th grade core classes and encore classes are available, who the adults are that our 7^th grade students will be working with, how to choose which world language a student wants to take, and a general discussion of the resources and supports that are available in the junior high schools.
• Intermediate counselors will meet with students as needed for 7^th grade scheduling questions/concerns during the course selection process.
• In the spring, intermediate counselors meet with each student to talk about secondary school plans and post secondary plans to help them starting thinking about their future (college and career planning).
• Also in the spring, the junior high school counselors and staff will do a presentation with the 6^th graders to help prepare them for 7^th grade and to answer any questions. Topics covered will include junior high school courses and schedules, homework in the junior high school, changing classes and managing a locker, keeping organized, making new friends and taking part in extra-curricular activities and athletics, and transitioning to a new schedule with multiple teachers. There will also be a student panel so that 6^th grade students can ask questions directly of junior high school students.
• In April/May there will be parent orientation meetings at both Burger and Roth for parents of incoming students (please see parent presentation slides at the bottom of this page).
• In August, there will be an orientation day for incoming 7^th graders, run by junior high school counselors and staff, as well as student WEB leaders (specially trained 9^th grade students who act as ambassadors of the building). Students will be introduced to important staff at the junior high school, will be given their 7^th grade schedules and taken on a tour of the building, participate in team-building activities with fellow incoming 7th graders, and experience various activities to help them transition to the junior high school smoothly.

Our 7^th grade students are placed on teams, so they’ll have one set of teachers for ELA, math, social studies and science. The other half of the grade level will be placed on the other team. Students share their encore classes (PE, art, music, health and technology) with students on the other team. Lunches are combined for students of both teams.

Click here for information regarding Roth Junior High

Click here for information regarding Burger Junior High

Transition to the Senior High School

The transition to the Senior High School is one that our 9^th graders should be well prepared for. Much of their junior high school experience has been designed to help them get ready for high school – changing classes, using lockers, encouraging independence and providing more freedom, exposing students to more challenging curriculum and offering students more choice among the courses they can decide to take – all of this is designed to prepare students for the next step in their educational journey. Students do have to prepare for some changes, though – a move to a different building - with slightly different rules and culture – new teachers and routines, and a whole new group of classmates to meet. There are also new opportunities and experiences – different programs and academic challenges to take advantage of. Students who are able to plan a bit for their futures will be better able to exploit these opportunities to their fullest.

Overview of Senior High School transition activities

• In December, 9^th grade counselors will provide a presentation to 9^th grade students describing the transition to the Senior High School. Topics covered will include picking 10^th grade courses (explaining the timeline for course selection as well as the resources available to help students pick their courses), planning for your future pathway (college and career), opportunities and resources available in high school to help you prepare for your future (including the Career and College Center), special programs available to students at the senior high school (EMCC program at Monroe One BOCES, Taste of College program, etc.), graduation requirements for high school, and an examination of what colleges look for, and a description of what to expect in sophomore year and at the high school in general (discussion of high school schedule and what the average day looks like at the high school, identifying adults who are available to provide support to students, etc).
• From January – March, junior high school counselors meet with each student for the annual guidance review. At these meetings, counselors help students pick courses for 10^th grade, provide an update on the student’s transcript and review his or her progress so far on graduation requirements, discuss the student’s future plans regarding career pathways and attending college, and develop an individualized graduation plan for that student that will be reviewed each year until the student graduates. Counselors also answer any questions about the transition to the senior high school that students may have.
• In the spring, staff from the Senior High School, including the 10^th grade counselors, present information to all 9^th grade students in an assembly. The topics covered include many of the things already mentioned in previous presentations to students, with a special emphasis on what makes the senior high school experience unique compared to the junior high schools. Included in this presentation is a student panel of seniors who give tips on making the transition between buildings successful, as well as a question and answer session.
• In August, there is an orientation day for incoming 10^th graders – run by the high school staff and the LINK Crew (the senior high school equivalent of the WEB Leaders). Students will receive their 10^th grade schedules, get a tour of the building, and participate in a variety of team building and orientation activities designed to both inform them about the upcoming year and help them to feel more comfortable about the transition.