Each year, incoming freshmen get the opportunity to come to Oakdale High School and explore the place where they will possibly be attending for the next 4 years.  This year’s move up day is scheduled for May 29.  

Dr. Ed Schoder, who coordinates the event alongside assistant principal Cindy Johnson, stated that he hopes that this experience for the upcoming freshmen would help them buy into the school’s belief in  being respectful and striving for excellence. He added that the school administration is looking to instill grit in their students, to help students find something to be intellectually passionate about, and to become involved in the school community.

“The purpose of move up day is to give students a sense of what high school is like and to get to meet high school students, teachers, and administrators even before Back to School Night,” Johnson explains.

For many students, moving up from middle school to high school is a major step in their life.  This can make the transition a fearful or exciting experience.  Having to make new friends or maintain friendships, taking challenging classes, and preparing for college are all factors in causing anxiety in students about the switch. 

Schoder doesn’t think there is any need to fear the changeover though: “The school is a very welcoming community and all the teachers want the students to be successful.”

Johnson, on the other hand, agrees that those feelings of nervousness and excitement are warranted because the school has higher expectations for students and she notes that the  move up can be scary.      

Johnson and Schoder share the same belief that the grading expectations and increased academic rigor is the hardest part about the transition. “The greatest adjustment students could make academically is to take notes in class,” Schoder states. “[Although, the] adjustments necessary [will] depend on the student.”

Continuing with these adjustments, Johnson shares that “there are teachers and counselors there who can help them make those changes so they can be successful.”

Schoder would like the freshmen to know the value of reading as they enter high school. He believes learning how to read on a consistent basis would enable the students to succeed in high school and in life overall. Johnson advises students to make the most of their high school experience.

The school wants to wish the best of luck to the incoming freshmen attending and they hope the incoming students can find a place in the school community, can make the necessary adjustments to be successful, and know that the teachers and staff care about the students.