The End of the Middle School Era

Benjamin Sloan Strait with his end of the year certificates.

The adventure of middle school is now complete!

Benjamin finished three years at Pierce County Middle School last Friday.

He had some academic shakiness here and there, but overall, his average for all classes was well above 90, getting A's many, many more times than not.  In the picture above, he is holding up certificates for having all A's for the year in Science and Social Studies.  The other certificate is for being in Beta Club, which required an overall average of 90 or above.  To me, that is the most prestigious award, and I hope they have more like them in high school.  I feel like overall GPA is more important than an individual grade in any one class.  So maybe in high school there will be more of those kinds of awards.

Middle school is where Benjamin joined band, an increasingly important part of his life.  He plays the baritone, an instrument he chose in part because it was easier to play while he had braces (braces that have since come off!).  Band kicked it up a notch this last year when he got to join the pep band, playing at middle school sporting events.  He really enjoyed being a part of that.

Benjamin was a member of student council.  He kind of thought they spent a little too much time on fundraisers, and administrative support, but I think he liked it nonetheless.  I remember from my own school experience in school - student government can be interesting but also frustrating.  I hope that, despite his mixed feelings about it, that he continues with it in some fashion in high school.

Benjamin was involved in SNACK, a group that helped sample and rate new food recipes that were being considered for inclusion in the school lunch menu.  That's where watching the Food Network with his Mama became useful, as he could express his reaction to food in the most effusive terms. 

He joined the Movie Club, and became a part of an extraordinary achievement, the making of the film The Life of a Middle Schooler.  He played the second lead, the comic relief, and was very impressive.  He became that secondary character that everybody loved to see and watch.  They are in the process of trying to make the film accessible to more people, and I will keep Strait Line followers up to date as to how that process is going, and how and when you could see the film.

This summer, Benjamin will take our summer vacation with us, as we go to the Smokey Mountains, Mammoth Caves and Nashville.  Then later in the summer he will have his two week Robotics Camp at Georgia Tech.  Then he will have to catch up and learn the marching routines so he can be a part of marching band.

And that will bring him to the next big adventure - high school!

Will he be ready?  I believe he will!

Will Mama and Dad be ready?  Well, I guess we better, because......

Pierce County High School.....HERE COMES BENJERMAN!