A Look Through the Student Lens: Meet our MICDS Middle Schoolers – Part 2
Have you ever wondered who exactly our fifth through eighth graders are at MICDS? With over 400 Middle Schoolers, our students come from a variety of backgrounds and pursue many different and exciting experiences at our School. Meet just a few of our Middle School Rams below to get to know our community and the student perspective on life in the Middle School at MICDS.
Meet Samara S. '30
Samara joined MICDS in seventh grade.
ACADEMICS & INVOLVEMENTS:
What is your favorite subject in school and why?
Lately, I’m having a hard time choosing my favorite subject since my eighth-grade teachers are always helping to stimulate my learning. It’s definitely a tie between science and English at this point because I’ve always liked experimenting with new things, and reading has always been a passion of mine, so it just seems natural that I’d love English so much.
What are you involved in outside of academics?
Right now, I’m involved in many different clubs and activities outside of just the school curriculum, like Middle School PRISM, Anime Club, and the seventh and eighth-grade play. I will also be starting a new sport, Squash, in the spring season.
What is your favorite time of day here?
My favorite class of the day is after school during ASAP (After-School Academic Program), where I can just zone out and focus on getting as much homework done as possible without distractions. It’s super helpful too because there are always teachers there to help you with your different subjects.
What is the coolest project or assignment you’ve worked on this year? Why were you proud of it?
The coolest project I’ve worked on this year was probably the City Project that we were assigned in history. I don’t even remember what city I chose, but I do know that it was so fun to research and design a presentation to show off my work.
STUDENT LIFE & CULTURE:
How would you describe student life or the culture of the students here?
There are always good people around who are willing to help you out with whatever you’re struggling with. We all eventually bond over our shared subjects, and it really helps to expand your friend group to other kinds of people.
Describe the ‘vibe’ of the hallway between classes in three words.
Busy, whirlwind, friendly.
How easy was it to make friends when you first started here?
When I joined, I already had some friends from my past school, but I must say that it was quite easy to connect with others. After only a short time, I was able to find my people, as well as mutual acquaintances and friendships.
If a new student walked onto campus today, what is the most important thing you would want them to know about MICDS?
It may be overwhelming at first and seem like everyone is moving so quickly without you, but once you get settled into the space, you’ll find that everyone there is willing to guide you at your own pace.
What is your favorite tradition at this school and why?
My favorite school tradition is the bonfire, where everyone gathers around a huge bonfire, and we all eat a bunch of food. I’ve only been able to attend this year, but I know it was incredibly special to connect with my friends and stuff my face.
Meet Matthew E. ‘31
Matthew joined MICDS this year in seventh grade.
ACADEMICS & INVOLVEMENTS:
What is your favorite subject in school and why?
My favorite subject is science because of all the cool experiments we get to do.
What are you involved in outside of academics?
Recently, I was involved in swimming and the robotics club, and soon, I will be doing tennis here.
What is your favorite time of day here?
My favorite time of day is usually lunch/recess because you get a chance to recharge and have fun.
What is the coolest project or assignment you’ve worked on this year? Why were you proud of it?
The coolest assignment we did here was when we did an experiment in science where we made the blue dye change colors using only our own breath. I was proud of it because it was really cool to watch it change before our eyes.
STUDENT LIFE & CULTURE:
How would you describe student life or the culture of the students here?
Here, the students are very kind and inclusive. Kids never leave each other out!
Describe the ‘vibe’ of the hallway between classes in three words.
The vibe of the hallways in three words is: Fun, Hurry, Medium-volume.
How easy was it to make friends when you first started here?
It was very easy to make new friends when I got here.
If a new student walked onto campus today, what is the most important thing you would want them to know about MICDS?
If a new student walked on campus, the most important thing to tell them would be all the shortcuts to get to different places faster.
What is your favorite tradition at this school and why?
My favorite tradition is the talent show, as it always shows many amazing talents.
Meet Ceren Y. '31
Ceren joined MICDS this year in seventh grade.
ACADEMICS & INVOLVEMENTS:
What is your favorite subject in school and why?
Currently, my favorite subject in school is English because every single day we have something new to learn and work on, and it is very interesting and enjoyable to talk about events that happen in our books, like Solo and Nimona. My teacher, Ms. Caulfield, is a very dedicated teacher and is always there to help.
What are you involved in outside of academics?
Outside of school, I enjoy playing tennis, and I am also a part of an Islamic association called the Turkish American Society of Missouri. In school, I enjoy being a part of the tennis team and competing in tournaments at different schools.
What is your favorite time of day here?
My favorite time of the day is orchestra. During orchestra, I get to play songs that are both fun and challenging. The teacher, Mr. Ethan Forte, is very helpful and helps me and other students if we are having trouble with our music.
What is the coolest project or assignment you’ve worked on this year? Why were you proud of it?
The coolest project that I have done this year was the Human vs. Robotic arm. During this project, I got to build an arm using wooden pieces and syringes. Then, I compared it to an actual arm, and made a video explaining why the arm was similar to a real one, and how different pieces meant different things. I was proud of this project because it was fully functional and very fun and amusing to build.
STUDENT LIFE & CULTURE:
How would you describe student life or the culture of the students here?
The student life at MICDS is very diverse, and everybody is unique. Wherever you go, you will always see people who are different from one another, but all get along well! It is so easy to get along with everybody.
Describe the ‘vibe’ of the hallway between classes in three words.
Excited, Curious, and Talkative.
How easy was it to make friends when you first started here?
It was very easy to make friends here at MICDS. During the Bridge Program, when I first sat down, I was very nervous, but the people were all very friendly and very easy to get along with! The people that I sat with have been some of my closest friends this year. Even people I didn’t meet at Bridge were very welcoming and always included me in everything.
If a new student walked onto campus today, what is the most important thing you would want them to know about MICDS?
The most important thing that they should know is be yourself! If you act like somebody you’re not, it won’t help! No matter who you are, what you do, or what you believe in, the students here will accept you.
What is your favorite tradition at this school and why?
My favorite tradition at MICDS would be Homecoming. When you arrive at school, everybody is full of spirit and excitement. When it comes to the Bonfire, it is very fun, and it’s a good time with friends. The morning after, it is so exciting watching sports events, especially the football game!
Meet Johnny G. '31
Johnny joined MICDS this year in seventh grade.
ACADEMICS & INVOLVEMENTS:
What is your favorite subject in school and why?
My favorite class is Global Perspectives. We have learned so much about Native American history and how Native Americans were treated by settlers. Every class is exciting, and you learn something new every day.
What are you involved in outside of academics?
I play squash competitively around the country, and I picked up lacrosse this year.
What is your favorite time of day here?
My favorite time of the day is advisory because you get to spend 30 minutes with a group of your friends doing different activities.
What is the coolest project or assignment you’ve worked on this year? Why were you proud of it?
I would say the cell model project we did in science class. I really enjoyed making a model and setting up all the parts of the cell.
STUDENT LIFE & CULTURE:
How would you describe student life or the culture of the students here?
Very welcoming and easy to make friends.
How easy was it to make friends when you first started here?
Pretty easy because you get close with your advisory quickly.
If a new student walked onto campus today, what is the most important thing you would want them to know about MICDS?
Get involved in school sports because they are such a big part of our school.
What is your favorite tradition at this school and why?
Homecoming because there are so many activities and things to do in the week and during the games.
Meet Betsy B. '30
Betsy joined MICDS in fifth grade.
ACADEMICS & INVOLVEMENTS:
What is your favorite subject in school and why?
My favorite school subject is history because our units this year have been very interesting, and my teacher, Mr. Blake Whitney, is a really good teacher!
What are you involved in outside of academics?
I participate in school basketball, student council, I did cross country in the fall for MICDS, and I plan to do soccer and track in the spring for MICDS. Outside of school, I do club soccer, club water polo, and basketball.
What is your favorite time of day here?
My favorite time of day is either P.E. and fine arts because you get to collaborate, and you get to choose what fine arts class you do, or recess because we get to talk and hang out with our friends.
What is the coolest project or assignment you’ve worked on this year? Why were you proud of it?
This year, I loved doing a religion newscast with my friend because we got to learn a lot about the religions we chose to research, and we got to have fun with editing it and making it! We were really proud of it because we got a good grade on it, and we worked really hard on it.
STUDENT LIFE & CULTURE:
How would you describe student life or the culture of the students here?
For me personally, the student life/culture here is amazing! I love it because everyone is so kind and you get to meet people who are different from yourself, which is really interesting.
Describe the ‘vibe’ of the hallway between classes in three words.
Loud, chaotic, fun.
How easy was it to make friends when you first started here?
It was pretty easy to make friends here because everyone here is super welcoming and genuinely wants to be your friend.
If a new student walked onto campus today, what is the most important thing you would want them to know about MICDS?
I would want them to know that even if they are nervous or feeling like the workload is too hard, it gets easier. You will adjust to MICDS quickly; you just have to put yourself out there, and things will get better.
What is your favorite tradition at this school and why?
My favorite tradition is Homecoming because everyone is super spirited and there are so many fun events.
Meet Gemma A. '30
Gemma joined MICDS in sixth grade.
ACADEMICS & INVOLVEMENTS:
What is your favorite subject in school and why?
My favorite subject is Spanish because I love learning about different cultures and the way people communicate. It’s fun and engaging, and I enjoy using the language in real-life situations.
What are you involved in outside of academics?
Outside of academics, I’m involved in several sports and activities, including soccer, basketball, boxing, and piano. These activities help me stay active and express myself in different ways.
What is your favorite time of day here?
My favorite time of day is recess because it’s a chance to relax and have fun with my friends. I love the strong sense of community and being able to spend time with everyone in my grade.
What is the coolest project or assignment you’ve worked on this year? Why were you proud of it?
One of the coolest projects I’ve worked on was interviewing family members in sixth grade. I was proud of it because I learned more about my own family history and the experiences that shaped them.
STUDENT LIFE & CULTURE:
How would you describe student life or the culture of the students here?
Student life at MICDS is very diverse, and everyone brings something unique to the community. That diversity makes the school feel welcoming and special.
Describe the ‘vibe’ of the hallway between classes in three words.
Energetic, social, lively.
How easy was it to make friends when you first started here?
At first, it was a little hard because it takes time to find the people you really connect with. Once you do, though, it becomes much easier and more comfortable.
If a new student walked onto campus today, what is the most important thing you would want them to know about MICDS?
Be confident and be yourself. You don’t need to change who you are—your people will find you.
What is your favorite tradition at this school and why?
My favorite tradition is Spirit Week because it’s a time when everyone gets to be creative, dress up, and show school pride together.
Thank you to these students for giving us a window into who they are and their MICDS perspectives. Be sure to get to know even more of our students on our blog!