[PiE News] November 2009 - Double Your Donation NOW!

Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School (JLS) sixth grade teacher Pier Angeli La Place remembers when grade school went up through sixth grade. She remembers when the decision was taken by the district to fold sixth grade into middle school. And she remembers not too long ago, the struggle it was for incoming sixth graders and their parents to adjust to life in a much larger, often intimidating new school, after the cozy family-like setting of elementary school.

Three years ago, with financial support from PiE, Pier Angeli, along with fellow sixth grade teachers Katie Schramm and Alex Salzmann, inaugurated Panther Camp, a tailored orientation program that would formalize the often difficult transition to middle school for new students and parents alike. This comprehensive four-day orientation experience has come to define the culture at JLS. Over the better part of the first week of school, nearly 300 new sixth grade students are treated to a fun-filled, yet educational community-building program like no other. More than 80 eighth graders, who have undergone extensive leadership training and have been exempted from their own classroom responsibilities, act as counselors to shepherd new students through games, competitions, and group discussions. Says a former counselor: "I enjoyed learning the leadership skills during the training day before school started. And, because of Panther camp, I think the 6th graders found it easier to adjust to JLS than I had as a 6th grader - I spent most of the first two weeks getting lost."

Even when the activities that fill each day of Panther Camp appear to be nothing more than good clean fun, the new students are being educated about all facets of school life. When they are competing in Binder Reminder jeopardy, they are answering questions that are all found in their mandatory school binder. A science class during Panther Camp includes a water taste test, comparing imported bottled water with local water-fountain fare. The students are always surprised to discover they prefer the local water! Character Education at JLS is a central component of the curriculum and Panther Camp reinforces its importance through an instructive video and moderated discussion.

Panther Camp builds community among sixth graders, across the youngest and eldest grades, involves parents, administrators, and the entire 6th Grade Teaching Team at JLS -- all with a view to making JLS a safe, close-knit center for learning and growing together. It is the kind of innovative student support program that PiE recognizes as enriching the educational experience while at the same time, building on core principles inherent in the pedagogical mission of our schools. Or, as Pier Angeli explains it, "Panther Camp puts into place structurally what we believe philosophically are the key components to school success."

One recent alum of Panther Camp put it this way: "Panther Camp was a great experience that really let me know how to find my way around JLS, who people were, and to feel less scared of the others in the older grades - they seemed so tall! But they were our counselors and were friendly. I also got to know other kids in my grade from other schools and made great friends." Whomever you ask, JLS is a richer place thanks to Panther Camp and a small piece of the PiE.

Palo Alto Partners in Education (PiE) is a non-profit education foundation dedicated to supporting all Palo Alto public schools. To make a donation please visit PiE Donations