415 Sixth Graders Bridge

The Gap To Middle School

By Tanjua Damon

With a new school year comes a new school for fifth graders who enter sixth grade at the middle school for the first time. The 11th Bridging the Gap ceremony was held September 6, unifying the group of almost 415 and welcoming them as sixth graders.

Parents and students flocked to the fields behind Newtown Middle School last week to enjoy picnic dinners of pizza and sandwiches as well as meet old and new friends, teachers, and administrators in an evening of fun and excitement.

Newtown Middle School Assistant Principal Tony Salvatore welcomed the families to the school. Parents and students enjoyed themselves throughout the evening with dancing, Project Adventure tasks, a movie, and ice cream.

“I thought it went very well. Everyone had a great time. Parents and student comments were very positive,” Mr Salvatore said. “It’s an integral part of our transition process from self-contained classrooms to different classrooms.”

 There are four elementary schools in the Newtown school system. Once the fifth graders arrive at middle school, the atmosphere changes because, they are no longer with many of the students they knew for six years. The Bridging the Gap ceremony allows them to reminisce with old friends while joining a new community.

“They are coming from four different elementary schools. This helps develop a new community,” Mr Salvatore said. “They are able to start branching out, developing new interests, making the middle school a positive experience.”

Corinne Coffey and her daughter, Jennifer, just moved to Newtown from Monroe. They were both pleased with the evening.

“This is a good idea,” Ms Coffey said. “I love this place so far.”

Even though Jennifer is new, being in the middle school is not. In Monroe the fifth grade was part of the middle school, but Jennifer is feeling welcome in her new academic home.

“It’s neat,” Jennifer said. “It’s a bigger school, cleaner, nicer, and more organized.”

Nicholas Saviano was in the fifth grade at Hawley School. He admits the middle school can be overwhelming and a challenge from elementary school.

“It’s pretty good,” he said. “It’s still confusing.”

With clusters in place and school in session, it should not take too long for the new community to make a mark and soar at the Newtown Middle School as sixth graders.