A Peak into Middle School Life

As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal Rio Rancho section 1/16/10

For parents of elementary school-age children, there are many opportunities to volunteer in the classroom and in turn, observe the class and see what a typical day is like for your child.

For that age, kids are very much alike in the grand scheme of things: cute, chatty, silly, eager to learn and please their teacher. But once your child moves on from fifth grade, the volunteer opportunities decrease tremendously and the kids grow up.

For the parents of middle school-age children, we don't get the opportunities to help out in the classrooms like we used to. No more grading papers, chaperoning field trips to Bandelier National Park or working the cake walk room at the fall festival. No, times change and kids grow up. And the hormones kick in.

The whole middle school existence is a microcosm unto itself. This "tween" world of little people revolves around tall girls and short boys, and who said what to whom and what did she say back and did he say anything about me?

My younger daughter's sixth grade class is currently having a fundraiser, and last week, I volunteered to sell Dilly Bars at Rio Rancho Middle School during lunch period A. I thought this may be my one and only chance to get an inside glimpse into the daily life of sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders, albeit only a quick 30-minute lunch period.

Wasn't that the best time for observing the crowd? Sign me up.

Team 6A is raising money to take the students on a field trip to see "The Lightening Thief," a movie which is based on Greek mythology.

"The students are learning about Greek mythology in both social studies and language arts," said Jessica Makin, math teacher and part-time balloon pilot. "We are also using the money to get snacks and waters for the students during the New Mexico Standard Based Assessment testing at the end of March."

Thanks to Tony Otero and the crew at Dairy Queen, there was plenty of ice cream. The Dilly Bars came in chocolate or cherry, and that was my line as I stood behind the table looking at the long line of kids in front of me.

First up was a short, innocent looking mop head boy with glasses and a backpack bigger than he was.

"Two chocolates, please," he asked politely.

As I handed him his ice cream, I couldn't help but wonder if in six years, he would become captain of the chess team or the big man on campus with 15 girlfriends, or both.

Next up was a shy, quiet girl, taller than most everyone else and waiting patiently in line. She bought a cherry for herself and a chocolate for her best friend. I couldn't help but wonder if one day she would grow up to become a newspaper columnist writing about her school days.

In addition to Ms. Makin, the other 6A Team teachers who dropped by to see how sales were going were Ms. Krueger, Ms. Knight and Ms. Ridout.

"Sales are going very well, and we think we will hit our goal by the end of January," Makin said. "We want to thank the parents who have volunteered their time and energy to come help us raise the needed money."

Middle school equals drama to the 10 power — squared. The cat fights, the hormones and awkwardness of it all can be rough. But with good teachers and a little ice cream, things seem to work out just fine.

Quote of the week: "I hear those ice cream bells and I start to drool. Keep a couple quarts in my locker at school." — "I Love Rocky Road" by Weird Al Yankovic

Jennifer Huard's column appears each Saturday in the Albuquerque Journal Rio Rancho section.