Holly SMS students 'prepare to soar'

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Linda Skrzynski talks to the i...

HOLLY, Michigan – Members of Holly High School’s class of 2017 are breathing a collective sigh of relief after taking part in “Fun Fest,” an activity-filled morning at Sherman Middle School designed specifically  to assist incoming sixth graders in adjusting to a new school environment.

Up until this year, Holly Area School sixth graders were housed at the Karl Richter Campus, giving students from the four area elementary schools a year to mix as classmates, and learn the ropes as a middle school student.

This year, budget constraints and lower student enrollment caused the Holly Board of Education to move the sixth grade students to SMS, joining seventh and eighth grade classes there.

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Linda Skrzynski

“After the decision was made earlier this year, I began noticing that students as well as parents had a little anxiety over the upcoming change,” SMS Principal Linda Skrzynski said on Friday. “That’s when I said we had to do something like this – something that will put everyone at ease.”

On Friday, over 150 incoming sixth graders attended the Fun Fest where they took part in a locker relay intended to assist the new students in the art of using a combination lock. Additionally, they took part in team building activities like the “Balloon Challenge” in the cafeteria, and the “Plank Challenge” in the gym.

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"Locker relays" helped student...

“I’ve watched some of our National Junior Honor Society eighth graders helping the new students in the locker relay, and I can see what a big difference it makes,” Assistant Principal Franklin Cox said. “It’s great to have our NJHS students here helping, and setting such a wonderful example for the other students.”

Students enjoyed a light snack in the cafeteria following the morning’s activities as Skrzynski broke the students into 15 groups for a school-wide scavenger hunt.

“Our motto this year is "Soaring to new heights,” she said to the group. “Can anybody tell me what it means to soar?”

Hands popped up all over the cafeteria, with responses like, “Fly,” “Glide,” and “Float.”

Designed to teach students the logistics of the school, students used clues to visit specific rooms, then collected pictures, teachers’ names and other items to use in a collage.

“As a group, I want you to choose a name for your poster, and try to relate it to having something to do with our motto – with soaring to new heights,” Skrzyznski said.

Skrzynski said the posters will be displayed for all to see on the first day of school, Sept. 7.