All seniors get red, all juniors get green, all sophomores get orange, all freshman get blue, and four eighth graders get a taste of high school life.
Middle school students in Spanish II, taught by Spanish teacher Virginia Leskowski, walk up to the high school every seventh period to join the high school class. However on Wednesdays when they join 15 minutes after the period begins due to conflict with the middle school schedule.
“They show up late, but it doesn’t really affect the class,” sophomore Sam Williamson said. “They’re not much different except they don’t really talk as much, they’re pretty quiet.”
The middle school students taking Spanish II are required to have a grasp on basic Spanish skills and have shown prior knowledge of the subject, as well as successful completion of Spanish BC at the middle school.
Due to the small level of middle school students in the class, high school Spanish students were not affected.
“Since there are currently only four PMS students enrolled, it doesn’t have a significant impact on class sizes. It has no effect on PHS students schedules” counselor Ashley English said.
“They don’t really make an impact because they don’t talk much,” sophomore Camille Selna said, “but they’re all really smart and above most of other kids’ skill level.”
The high school curriculum involves more independent work and exposes middle school students to the types of learning more commonly used at the high school.
“The class speed is a little faster than the middle school because the teachers expect you to be more independent and proactive. There are class discussions and partner work but usually it’s a lot of independent work,” eighth grader Ashley Gao said. “I think the high school students participate more in the class and are more used to the class dynamic. I like going to the high school because I get to meet new people.”
Eighth grader Sam Reynolds said one of the perks of being in the high school class is the lax rules towards chewing gum, as well as the opportunity to make new friends.
“It’s not that much harder except the tests, and you have to take more initiative to get a good grade” Reynolds said. “It’s fun and different.”