Liam Yelle ’29 and Sam Campos ’29 Reflect on Moving Up Day
- Voices
With ninth-graders off campus for the morning, the Class of 2029 went to four mini-classes, meeting teachers, learning about expectations and becoming “more confident” about joining the Upper School.
Over the years, Ravenscroft’s eighth-graders have had many different opportunities to visit the Upper School by shadowing current ninth-graders as they went about their normal schedules. However, on Nov. 20, the ninth-grade class was off campus for the morning, making way for the entire eighth grade to visit four abbreviated Upper School classes for their Moving Up Day. The eighth-graders went from class to class as advisory groups and, during the tutorial period, received their class T-shirt and a snack and had their class photo taken.
Here, two students share details about their experiences and what they learned about life in the Upper School.
Moving Up Day was a really cool experience. The first class I went to was an English class taught by Ms. Alison Kelly, where we learned about our summer reading book called “The Lord of the Flies.” I’m excited to read it. It was also cool seeing the science classrooms and the labs that we’ll be working in.
The Upper School seems like a nice environment in the hallway between classes, and it made me excited for the classes and electives I’ll be able to take next year. The teachers seem genuinely interested in teaching each individual student and helping us all to succeed. The day was very interesting because I got to learn how the Upper School works and understand more about what to expect.
— Liam Yelle ’29
Clockwise from top left: Sam Campos ’29; Liam Yelle ’29; the Class of 2029, sporting their new class T-shirts
The most fun part of moving up day at Ravenscroft was an opportunity to experience a taste of life in the Upper School firsthand. One of the highlights was meeting the Upper School teachers, who were excited about introducing themselves and the subjects they teach. I personally enjoyed the English class because it was a discussion-based class that focused on our summer reading book, “Lord of the Flies.” This [rotation through four classes] allowed me and my classmates to experience different teaching styles, topics and activities. Another fun aspect of the day was exploring the Upper School itself. We got to check out different classrooms, science labs and facilities, which for me as a Middle Schooler was exciting.
This experience helped me know more about what to expect when I get to the Upper School next year as an incoming freshman. I got a sense of teachers’ expectations, the rigor of the courses, and Upper School policies and procedures. For example, I learned about homework expectations, class participation and how to manage my time between academics and athletics. Most importantly, I learned how to navigate the increased independence that comes with being an Upper School student at Ravenscroft. After this phenomenal experience, I feel more confident and informed about what the next four years hold for me as a Raven.
— Sam Campos ’29