Marking Time – An Eighth Grader Reflects
In third grade, I had to decide whether or not I should stay at the Lincoln schools where all of my friends were that I had known since before preschool, or whether I should come to Nashoba Brooks, where I knew all of three people who would be in my class. I wasn’t sure if three new friends at Nashoba Brooks were worth leaving sixty in Lincoln.
I chose Nashoba. My first day of school was one of the rare days when I was actually shy around my classmates, and they would probably agree with me. Anyone who knows me well knows that I am, let’s just say, pretty much “out there” and shy is not a word that you would usually use to describe me.
Throughout fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and now eighth grade, my classmates and I have met challenges that we all have had to face together. For example, when our science teacher, Mrs. Ashkar, passed away, we were all there for each other no matter what.
At last in eighth grade, the whole class has become tighter than ever. There are no cliques or exclusive groups. We share some unbelievable bond that we will never share with any other group of people because no other group of people could be as amazing as these twenty-seven girls. If I could go back to third grade, I would make that decision I made six years ago a million times over again.
End of First Year Q & A |
A fourth-grade student responds to questions about her first year at Nashoba Brooks
In what ways did you find Nashoba Brooks different from your previous school?
I think that people at Nashoba Brooks are valued for better things than at my old school. For instance, the dress code—most people here might think of it as a complete disadvantage, but I don't. At my old school people were judged by what they wore.
Would you like to go even further, and have school uniforms?
Well, no.
Is there a school project this year you've especially liked?
I really enjoyed humanities projects where we decided on a subject like medieval Arabia, and learned about the art and the history. We chose a topic-like glass or pottery, a famous person-then used search engines to look for information. When we found enough we wrote it down in three or four categories, then wrote a paragraph for each category. After that we created a visual project, such as a poster. I did a second visual project for extra project. I made basket of goods that merchants sold, and did this in Hyperstudio-like a movie with buttons.
What was the transition to a new school like?
It wasn't exactly hard because I had the long, long summer between last year and this year and had been here so many times with my step-siblings, who were already here. The Welcome Party hosted by upper grade girls for new upper grade girls was a big help. Also it was good to have the "sneak-peek" the day before school, when all new students get to see their classrooms.
How about new friendships?
Making friends wasn't hard, either. Usually girls have girls as friends and boys have boys as friends, so in my old school I had only half of the grade to make friends with.
How does it feel to be at an all-girls school?
A lot better! As you get older, boys start to get-energetic, shall I say.
And what about being at a school that also has little kids?
That makes it more enjoyable. I have a few friends who are little kids. And there's the Grade Four/Grade Eight Big-Sister/Little Sister program, where I'm the younger one. We've gone on one field trip and there's another one coming up. It's so much fun to be with the older girls.
