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closeThursday, Jun. 11, 2009
Chief Joseph students leave middle school
By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer
RICHLAND -- All that the eighth-graders at Chief Joseph Middle School in Richland had left to do Wednesday morning was fill up their yearbooks with signatures, say good-bye to their friends and throw a few pies in the faces of their favorite teachers in a special assembly.
But some of them took time amid celebrating the last day of class to reflect on what they learned in middle school. It was more than reading, writing and math.
"It doesn't really matter what people think of you," said Jayden Cornett, 14. "Don't let what people say affect who you are. Just go with what you think is right."
Ben Hoffner, 14, said he learned the importance of making the most of each day.
"It's your only (chance at) middle school. Live it to the fullest," he said.
Wednesday was the last day of school in Kennewick, Richland and Burbank. Pasco, Finley and Othello schools get out Friday.
Several eighth-graders at Chief Jo said there were plenty of highlights of the year. The unanimous top pick was a band trip to Disneyland. The students performed and participated in a workshop, rode the theme park rides and ate food with their hands at the popular Medieval Times dinner attraction.
There also were academic lessons that stuck out, including when they built "contraptions" in science class that propelled a marble from one side to the other, and when they studied the Holocaust and World War II.
They also saw the debut of the discipline program Make Your Day at the school, which drew criticism from some parents and support from others. But the students weren't thinking much about getting in trouble Wednesday.
They talked about what it was like when they first came to the school as sixth-graders.
"I was excited but scared because everybody was going to be pretty tall," said Delaney Shields, 14.
They worried about making friends and having someone to sit with at lunch. They'll feel those fears again soon because their next stop is high school.
Some of the eighth-graders said they're nervous about making their way in a new place. But they're excited too because they'll have the chance to make more memories and learn more important lessons.
"I'm looking forward to it," Jayden said. "In high school, you seem more like an adult."
"You grow up," Ben said.
Before their last day at Chief Jo was done, the students offered some advice for the sixth-graders who'll be the new kids in school next year. Middle school sometimes gets a bum rap, but it can be a lot of fun, they said.
"Don't over-think. Do what you're supposed to do and you'll be OK," said Tony Braccia, 14.
"Don't blow off middle school, either," said Luke Price, 14. Some say that time doesn't matter, but it does, he said.
Friends are made, interests are discovered, habits are formed.
The eighth-graders couldn't help but think about how much they'd grown since their first day in sixth grade and how quickly the time passed.
On the last day of school, that was one final lesson -- that before you know it, the bell rings and it's time to move on.
"Middle school," said Anneliese Barnes, 14, "goes by so fast."
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