New awards/commitment ceremony planned at middle school

A long-standing tradition at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Middle School is taking on a different look. Instead of the usual eighth grade graduation ceremony, an awards/commitment event will recognize the accomplishments of all students in grades 5-8, with a special focus on those advancing to high school.

"We've had lots of conversation and feel we've come up with an awesome opportunity to honor our students, especially the eighth graders," said Principal Corey Ramsey during the board meeting on March 21.

The event will include awards presentations to students in all grades and a "commitment ceremony" during which eighth graders can sign a banner affirming their intention to graduate from high school in four years.

"We feel it makes a stronger statement to graduate from high school than to have a graduation ceremony," Ramsey explained.

The ceremony is scheduled to be held on May 19, at 1:30 p.m. Eighth graders' family members will be invited and the event will be livestreamed for the community.

• Graduation policies match state requirements

Policies which bring H-M-S into compliance with state graduation requirements were approved. One policy states that any student who completes minimum graduation requirements is eligible for early graduation. A district cannot limit when students can graduate early.

The second mandatory policy requires high school students to complete 36 listed credits prior to graduation. They are eight credits of English/Language Arts, six credits each of science, mathematics and social studies, four semesters of physical education, two credits of American history and one credit each of United States government and financial literacy. The Class of 2022 is the first to be required to earn a credit in financial literacy.

According to discussion last month, H-M-S students must still have at least 54 credits in order to receive a diploma. The 36 credits required by the state apply to those who do not meet the district's graduation requirements, pending board approval.

Graduation requirements for special education students include successful completion of four years of English and three years each of math, social studies and science.

• Transition planning, class registrations

Opportunities to help eighth graders transition to high school and fourth graders better adjust to middle school in the fall are scheduled during May.

"We feel we needed a better transition for both of those grade levels," Ramsey said.

A group of freshmen will meet with eighth graders to discuss transitioning to high school and to answer questions. That opportunity will be in addition to the freshman orientation held at the high school in August.

"It was very successful last year and helped ease the first day jitters that freshmen can experience," said Principal Nate Hemiller.

Fourth graders will visit the middle school, where Ramsey and some fifth graders will provide information and answer questions. The new middle schoolers will also have a chance to visit with fifth and sixth grade teachers.

"We hope that opportunity will help prepare them mentally to come up to middle school," Ramsey said.

The class registration process for next year began at the high school with Counselor Kim Spier and Hemiller discussing course offerings with students.

"I am very impressed with how much time and thought went into their course selections. We are seeing students challenge themselves to do more than in the past. It's the best I've ever seen here," Hemiller said.