Seventh graders prepare for their last year in middle school

Story by Jenna Hohne and Daniele Wittles

​Middle school. First comes sixth grade, then seventh, and last comes eighth.

The seventh graders are doing all they can to prepare for their last year at Clay. One preparation is to make their eighth grade schedule.

The seventh graders got to choose up to eight electives for eighth grade. The students get to choose from a variety of electives ranging from art, technology, language, and music. These classes can help you find your future career, and earn diplomas in high school. Students get to explore their interests and find what they think is the most enjoyable.

“All of our electives help create a well-rounded student. Classes, each offering their own skill set, are often chosen based on a student’s interests and career goals. Depending on future aims and past experiences, a person might be drawn to certain electives over others,” Mrs. Michelle Janson, counselor, said.  

Janson believes it is important for students to have numerous electives to choose from “because we have a wonderful mixture of students at Clay that have a variety of interests and therefore we need to cater to and serve those different interests. There are also many professional fields out there that we need to represent as well” she said.

Mrs. Janson was then asked how electives help students in choosing and fulfilling their future careers.

“Electives can help you earn high school credit which moves you closer to achieving your diploma. These classes help students discover career fields that are intriguing to them and grow skills that will serve them throughout life. Electives create better visions of potential jobs down the road and prepares our students for the excitements and challenges of life,” she said.

Janson made one last comment saying: “All of our teachers are amazing and no matter what elective you choose, you will learn a lot and have fun doing it.”

Tyler Wittles, an eighth grade student, was asked a couple of questions about how the electives he chose are affecting his eighth grade year.

“The classes I took were Orchestra and French,” Tyler said. Wittles said he was happy with the electives he had chosen.

Leila Anthony, seventh grade, was also asked a few questions about her schedule. “I took mixed media, drawing and painting, Tech. Ed, and yearbook,” Antony said. “I took these classes because I wanted to have fun while doing different projects.”

The seventh graders created their schedules earlier in February, and had until February 26 to change them through the Online Course Request System.
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Any other schedule changes can be made by emailing a counselor at Clay by May 20. Knowing that they only have one more year at Clay, the students are trying to choose the classes that will help them make the best of their last year as middle schoolers.