Bexley K-6 for Strong Kids Petition to the Board of Education

I totally agree with what you are doing! And I'll support you all the way!

I moved to Bexley before I started 5th grade at Montrose. 6th grade was much better experience. I had a few close friends by the time I entered Middle School. I didn't care for it but I wasn't alone.

Middle school was the worst two years of my life. I was awkward and trying to figure out who i was. Why extend that to 3.

8th graders are currently eating lunch at 1045 am due to having one cafeteria for all 3 schools at the Cassingham complex. Adding additional students to that complex will increase traffic and congestion that is already an issue. Having 2 of 3 of our children attend Montrose then middle school in 7th grade allowed them to mature for an additional year before moving on.

Against this move

Why change something that is not broken. 6th grade girls are starting to figure themselves out physically and emotionally and boys are not nearly mature enough yet. Is moving these 6th graders into Middle School really the best decision?

Neighborhood elementary schools continent to attract families to Bexley.

I moved out of bexley for one year in the sixth grade, I went to a new school where 6th grade was a part of middle school. I'm a freshman now but I remember how terrified I was of the older kids, and how awkward everyone was, trying to fit in with people that were nothing like us. Please don't add another year to an already awkward and scary time. Let the children be children and have a good send off from elementary school.

One of my neighbors shared a quote with me: "Elementary school teachers teach children. Middle school and high school teachers teach subjects." Let's remember it's the children we're teaching!

I was in 6th grade at an elementary school and it was the best year of school. Middle school was the most awkward and unhappy time; let's not add one more year to that.

Better educational atmosphere for 6th graders is at k-6 schools

Please keep 6th in elementary school

6th graders belong with elementary grades. They shouldn't be FORCED to grow up too fast or be exposed to older kids behavior

Safety issue, walking to school. Plus 7/8th graders are bigger than 6th graders

The world we live in already causes our children to grow up too fast. Keeping them in an elementary school setting for 6th grade is instrumental when it comes to giving them a chance to confidently begin developing into teenagers, as this is a comfortable environment. Going through this change outside of their comfort zone could greatly inhibit this teenage transition.

6th graders in Elementary school allows them to be older student and leaders for the lower grades. Agree with other comments on over crowding and not just classrooms but the lunch room.

My son does not want this to happen

-The cost could be spent else where. -We would have to travel further for pickup and drop off. -over crowding. -it could harm the value of homes in North Bexley.

6th grade was a valuable learning year for me before heading to middle school. 5 years of elementary does not allow students to grasp all the knowledge they need to have before moving to middle school. Not only would changing 6th grade to middle school restrict students from missing out on a valuable learning year including switching classes and basic learning requirements needed for middle school but it would damage the reputation of the Bexley school system!

Let me begin by saying that I am not necessarily opposed to this change. I believe a lot of the facts presented from an academic standpoint need to be considered. However, I find it disturbing that at the last board meeting there was discussion about letting kids/parents decide which route to go (move to middle school or not). That is not an effective solution and has more negatives than positives in my opinion. It also contradicts some of the justification given for why 6th graders are better served at the middle school. I don't understand how this could even be a viable option.