To replace back-to-school jitters with confidence and excitement for the new academic year, students at MICDS had the opportunity to participate in a variety of orientation and welcome events prior to the first day of school. The goal of these events is to make each student and their family feel at home as they become familiar with campus, the MICDS community, and new routines. Check out the summaries of the welcome events that helped each student find their own beat to walk to as they entered campus on Tuesday, August 19.
Lower School
Lower School New Student Welcome
On Monday, August 18, new Lower School students and their families were invited to campus for the New Lower School Student Welcome. Students visited classrooms, met their teachers, and enjoyed time on the playground. Additionally, families were welcome to visit their child’s classroom on Friday, August 15, to take back-to-school photos, meet their child’s homeroom teacher, and help their student get comfortable finding their classroom before the big day. These opportunities helped get the newest members of Beasley ready to jump into the fresh school year ahead!
Middle School
Middle School Bridge
To help provide a smooth transition for our new fifth through eighth-grade students who are joining MICDS Middle School, the Bridge program includes an orientation to campus, academic enrichment, and time to connect with the MICDS community. “Our Middle School Bridge Program is my favorite way to kick off the school year,” shares Callie Bambenek, Middle School Science Teacher. “To be able to welcome over 90 new middle school students and give them the predictability they deserve is the best feeling. Our Bridge staff really enjoy seeing our new Rams settle in, watching their nerves melt away as they gain familiarity with their new schedules and hallways and begin friendships with their classmates.”
During the weeklong program, new Middle Schoolers learned all about the Middle School Theme and Mission: LEAD. LEAD stands for Learning with curiosity and joy, Embracing challenge, Advocating for self and others, and Demonstrating collaboration and teamwork. Each day focused on one letter from the LEAD acronym, expanding upon it as a theme for the day’s activities. The new students were also introduced to the Middle School Honor Code.
At Bridge, new Middle School Rams ventured on walking tours of campus, got familiar with MICDS history over a game of Kahoot!, and completed numerous icebreakers and team-building exercises such as the Tarp Challenge, the Water Challenge, and the Straw Tower Challenge. They decorated pennants to showcase their personalities and practiced walking their schedule and carpool routes. Wrapping it all up, they tackled a fun scavenger hunt and were officially ready to start school.
“I loved Bridge this year!” reflects Maahi Saini ’27, Co-Lead of the Bridge Summer RAMbassadors. “It’s always such a helpful way for the new kids to get acclimated to their new school and feel confident on the first day of school, and I love seeing the kids make new friends by the end of only one week of Bridge. I love going back and volunteering with Bridge!”
Middle School Book Days
Middle School Book Days were held on Thursday, August 14, and Friday, August 15, before school started. At the Book Day appointments, Middle School families purchased books and supplies, took their student photo, dropped off medication if needed, set up their lockers, ordered a yearbook, and bought apparel from the Campus Store. Seventh and eighth graders also picked up their laptops.
Middle School Welcome Day
Each grade in the Middle School enjoyed its own dedicated welcome session for Middle School Welcome Day, held this year on Friday, August 15. Each welcome event included a student orientation, a parent session, and a student social. Students could continue setting up their lockers as well. Check out the welcome day photo albums, organized by grade level, below!
5th Grade Welcome Day Album
6th Grade Welcome Day Album
7th Grade Welcome Day Album
8th Grade Welcome Day Album
Upper School
Upper School Book Day
Upper School Book Day occurred on Wednesday, August 13. Similar to the Middle School Book Day appointments, Upper School families purchased books and supplies, picked up their laptops, ordered yearbooks, and bought apparel from the Campus Store. What a great day for preparing for the school year!
Upper School Bridge
The Upper School Bridge program helps new students successfully integrate and transition into the life of our Upper School. This year, the two-day program took place on Thursday and Friday, August 7 and 8. Students were introduced to the academic and community expectations of MICDS Upper School, as well as the huge array of opportunities from clubs, sports, arts, and several long-standing school traditions. They also learned about student support and other helpful school resources. Perhaps most importantly, they benefited from connecting with current students who served as Bridge Mentors who welcomed them to the school, provided information about student life, and answered all their questions.
“Starting at a new school can feel a little intimidating, even in a welcoming community like ours,” says David Hotaling, Upper School Counselor and Bridge Leader. “With a large campus, detailed class schedules, and so much happening at once, it’s a lot for anyone to handle. That’s why our Upper School intentionally gives new students a chance to connect with one another, meet current students, and get comfortable with their schedule and surroundings before the first day of school rush.”
Bridge is also a lot of fun! Upper School Science Teacher Brian Coco facilitated a team scavenger hunt and a series of interactive games known as “Bridge Bash.” By the end, new students walked away with the guidance and confidence to successfully navigate their first few days at MICDS.
Ninth & New Upper School Student Orientation
After all of the orientation and welcome events, we hope that our Rams started the school year off with a strong beat of confidence and joy in their classes. Welcome and welcome back, Rams!