Evesham students can prepare for middle school with ‘Sixth Grade Survivor Camp’
Summer is the time when many young students put school out of their mind and go to camp, but this summer in Evesham, a special kind of camp will be returning where having school on the mind is the entire point.
The Evesham Township School District’s “Sixth Grade Survivor Camp” is a workshop hosted by the Evesham Township School District to help incoming sixth-grade students make the transition from the district’s elementary schools to Marlton Middle School or DeMasi Middle School.
The program, originally a creation of DeMasi Middle School teacher Maureen Heenan, is returning for its second year this summer from Aug. 17–20.
As with last year’s inaugural program, Heenan said students will learn a range of skills to ease their transition to middle school, including learning the layout of the building, going over schedules, learning how to pick electives, reviewing the agenda book, how to open lockers, how to meet new friends, positive behaviors, study skills and more.
“There was feedback I would receive from the students from throughout the year. I would ask them ‘did it help you, did it ease your anxiety,’ and they all had very positive things to say,” Heenan said. “They thought the things they learned, the tips that were given to them, were all pertinent and helpful.”
Each day’s workshop will last three hours and be located at the middle school the student will be entering in September.
Students can choose one of two morning or afternoon sessions, from 9 a.m. to noon or from 1 to 4 p.m.
The deadline for registration is July 31, with forms available on the district’s homepage at www.evesham.k12.nj.us. Enrollment will cost students $120, and they must provide their own transportation, snack and drinks.
According to Heenan, new this year is that the program will be run entirely through the district, which she and the district said better serve the community and help more kids. As such, Heenan will serve as the expert for DeMasi Middle School, and Marlton Middle School will have its own expert as well.
“I just think it’s going to reach a lot more students …we’ll just be able to delve into things a lot more,” Heenan said.
Heenan said running the program entirely through the district also opens the possibility of administrators meeting with kids or inviting older students to talk with the incoming kids.
“It might even be better than it was before,” Heenan said.
Those with registration questions can contact curriculum secretary Susan Kaplan at kaplans@evesham.k12.nj.us or (856) 983–1800, ext. 5056.
“It’s fun because a lot of the elementary kids, when they’re coming to middle school, they have this notion that we’re going to be a lot meaner and scarier than the teachers they’re used to,” Heenan said. “The program gives kids a chance to learn that urban legend isn’t true. It’s just a lot of fun.
