TUESDAY, MAY 14

MILE 6

BEARDEN MIDDLE SCHOOL

I've just spent the day on a golf course with a slew of middle schoolers from East Tennessee.  Parker was one of five students from Bearden Middle School that participated in the Regional Golf Tournament at Millstone Golf Club in Morristown.  So I thought it would be appreciate to share my thoughts on our experience in middle school.

Bearden Middle School gets a lot of bad rap.  I remember when Parker was in second grade, someone asked me if I would send him to Bearden.  At that point, I was focused on getting through early elementary school, but I replied that we were planning on it.  I'm glad that we never changed our minds.  It has been great.  

Here are some of the things I think Parker has taken away from his year at BMS:

- On the first day of school, it is possible to renew friendship with someone you haven't seen since preschool.  In fact, you can even become locker partners!

- It isn't the end of the world if you aren't in class with friends from elementary school.

- Playing an instrument is harder than it looks.

- Golf is harder than it looks.

- There are "bad kids" who cuss and sag (now used as a verb for wearing your pants low).

- You don't dance at middle school dances.

- It is possible to be friends with the cool kids, the smart kids, the band kids, the athletic kids, the not-so athletic kids...and yes, even girls.

Here are a few things that I've discovered:

- There are a TON of great families at Bearden - families just like ours who love their kids and want the best for their school.

- Middle schoolers love to be together.  That is why Bruinaroo was such a success!

- Parker decided this was the year to come out of his shell and start talking in class...apparently a lot.

- The teachers at Bearden really want to teach middle schoolers...which is a definite calling!

- Bearden is a picture of the "real world"...rich, poor, educated, not educated, religious, not religious, special needs, different colored skin, different languages...and it is embraced.  

- Communication is the key to a parent feeling engaged in middle school.  Thanks to Virginia Babb, the BMS teachers and administration, I have a very good idea of what is happening at BMS.

So, for those families with second-graders zoned for Bearden, do not fear!  When someone asks you where your child will go to middle school, you can proudly say, "Bearden!"  It's a great place.