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Aberdeen Middle participates in new middle school orientation program with APG
‘Middle School 101’ eases student anxiety
Story and photo by RACHEL PONDER
APG News
August 27, 2015
 
Fifteen incoming middle school students, currently enrolled in the APG North (Aberdeen) summer camp program, asked questions and expressed their concerns about the upcoming school year during “Middle School 101,” hosted by Child, Youth and School Services Aug. 19.
 
School Liaison Officer Stacie Umbarger, who led the forum, said the event was designed to ease anxiety and prepare students for academic achievement as they prepare to make the transition to a new school and new experiences.
 
“They were very open and asked lots of questions,” Umbarger said. “They were mainly concerned about bullying, homework, changing classes and locker assignments.”
 
The presentation opened with a discussion from Aberdeen Middle School Principal Dr. Anthony Bess and sixth grade assistant principal Lisa Standish.
 
“The one tip I give everyone is never share your locker combination with someone else,” Bess said. “Even when you are having trouble with your locker. If you need help, get help from an adult.”
 
Standish said that at the start of the school day she walks around the sixth grade hallway and is available to assist students that need help.
 
“When you need help you just have to ask,” she said.
 
Standish added that there are perks to middle school like band, gym and Project Lead the Way, an educational program focused on developing student’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, skills.
 
“It’s new, but new things can be exciting and fun.” she said. “You are growing up, which is exciting,”
 
After the presentation, Umbarger gave the students strategies for success in middle school and encouraged them to choose friends who make positive choices.
 
“Show me your friends, I will show you your future,” she said. “If you hang out with someone that gets in trouble a lot, trouble is going to find you.”
 
She advised attendees to use their cell phones and social media with extreme caution.
 
“When you put your photos on the Internet, they are there forever,” she said. “You have to be very careful about what you are putting out there. If you post a photo on social media, make sure it is a photo you would want your parents to see.”
 
She urged them to just be themselves.
 
“What makes you different is what makes you great,” she said. “It’s okay to be different, who says we have to be like everybody else.”
 
At the end of the forum, seventh grade students Chyann Benjamin, Christina Pagliaro and Andrew Fung shared their middle school experiences.
 
Attendees said they found the information helpful.
 
“I learned you can be just be yourself, you don’t have to be scared,” said Karissa Ocasio, 11.
 
Incoming sixth grader Gerald Brown, 11, said he is not worried about attending a new school.
“In middle school, I will be fine as long as I [can] be myself and focus,” he said. “I will focus on the task at hand and make my parents proud.”
 
Umbarger said she would like to expand “Middle School 101” so that more APG children can attend next year.
 
“I want to get current middle school students involved, so that we can make it better,” she said.
 
For more information, contact Umbarger at 410-278-2857, or stacie.e.umbarger.naf@mail.mil.

Pictured above: Justin Dorsey, 11, front, raises his hand to ask a question during a Middle School 101 question and answer session hosted by APG Child, Youth and School Services Aug. 19.