8th Grade Move Up Day is a significant day when eighth graders get to experience being a high schooler for a day! This is an opportunity for middle school students to see how upper school is different.

“They are going to be paired with an upper school buddy, someone that generally they know pretty well if possible. If not they try to find someone with common interests and then they go to their different classes and see what those are like,” explains Ms. LeAnn Wood, one of the middle school English teachers.

Many students felt mixed emotions going into the day. Nisah Hathiari ‘29 explains she felt “terrified and excited. It’s a whole different experience, and even if we have the experience of older siblings or cousins, we still don’t know what we are getting into.”

This is a pretty typical reaction, but Dior Dunn ‘28 explains, “I felt scared, but when I first got here I thought, ‘Oh I could get used to this!’ Once you get adjusted and settled down, things get easier!”

Students have a lot to be excited about! ”I’m really excited to see new teachers and have more opportunities to go on highschool trips and clubs, and it gives you a chance to make more friends who you didn’t know previously,” says Hathiari ‘29.

The biggest difference a lot of students will find is the mix of grades in their classes in upper school.“The upper school is a totally different environment, you get to take classes with a variety of people so you have sophomores, juniors, sennoirs, all in your classes as a freshman! You get to make friends with all grades, you get to play sports with all those grades,” says Mrs. Wood.

Many eighth graders found the privileges that come with being an upper school student pretty enticing. “I feel like ice cream everyday would be nice, also more freedom where we sit during lunch because it gets really loud,” says Hathiari ‘29.

Dunn ‘28 agrees, saying, “In high school they give you that freedom to be out going, because in high school you get all of your homework so they give you free time so also have fun and to be serious.”

Eighth graders are also excited to have more class selection. “I’m especially excited for 2D art and ceramics; these are classes I definitely want to take,” says Hathiari ‘29.

Privileges come with responsibility, and that’s a big part of 8th Grade Move-Up Day. There are more privileges, there’s more freedom, the content is challenging in a new way, the teachers are going to push them in different ways as well, because upper school is all about that college preparation and helping figure out what you want to be when you grow up! Which it is always okay to change your mind,” explains Mrs. Wood.

It’s also a day to decide whether they think this is the right place for them or if they want to look into other places to blossom.“Maybe they feel, ‘I’ve been here my whole life, I want to try something new,’” says Mrs. Wood. This event is a big day for eighth graders with great decisions! 

Dunn ‘28 gave a great tip for the eighth graders, “Really don’t be scared, put yourself out there, try sports right now to see if this is how you want to spend your highschool career, and go to things and be outgoing!” 

It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous about high school, but at Barstow, the small environment can really help. “If you have upperclassmen [in your classes], ask them for help, because they would love to help you” Dunn ‘28 assures.

8th Grade Move-Up Day is a chance to experience and explore things to try to find out what they want to do when they grow up!