Attention 8th Graders: Life at the Upper School!

“Open this bag of CONFETTI, throw it into the air, and shout WELCOME TO THE UPPER SCHOOL!!!”

That's what the card said. The card my brother received from his advisor a bit before his first day as a Lakeside freshman. (It included a bag of shiny rainbow confetti.) This was 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. He had to start online due to the disease, and his advisor wasn’t able to throw an advisory welcome party. So she got creative. 

But what should we, the current eighth-grade class of Lakeside Middle School, expect when people say “Welcome to the Upper School?” For some of us, it feels incredibly daunting. For others, it’s a dream come true, and for still others, just an addition of inhumane amounts of homework. The one thing we all have in common is a feeling of stepping into the unknown. I have been lucky enough to have two siblings go through the Upper School, and they have helped shine some light on the mysterious goings-on at 14050 1st Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125.

First off, advisories and houses. Unlike the middle school, Upper School advisories last for the length of high school - all four years. While switches are possible, most stick with their advisories. This brings an opportunity to have community with people who you usually wouldn’t be able to spend time with. Keep an open mind! As for the houses, each advisory is assigned to one: Trudgian, Holcenberg, Nordhoff, or Auslander. There are two house assemblies a year. They work similarly to Spirit Squads in the Middle School. 

Next up, homework. The homework load is real. It is going to take hard work and focus, and we should probably eliminate the word “procrastination” from our daily dictionaries. Yet, it's important to remember that you're allowed to have a life outside of school. Teachers are always willing to talk to you about special circumstances and extensions, much like at the Middle School. They understand that sports, theatre, etc. are important, and they want to support you in your ambitions. 

Thirdly, arts! There is such a great variety of choices for arts at the Upper School. Even if you aren’t usually one for creating something out of nothing, stay open. There is so much joy and freedom in your future creations. These options include orchestra, concert band, jazz band, ceramics and sculpture, photography, choir, drawing and painting, and drama. You are also allowed to switch from one year to the next, so maybe go outside your comfort zone!

Lastly, extracurriculars. Lakeside offers over two hundred clubs, almost all of which are student-created and -led. Applications for Student Government will take place in September for the incoming ninth graders to give new students the opportunity as well. There really is something for everyone, whether you like hiking outdoors, cooking, dancing, or even fundraising for girls’ education in Kenya. As for sports, again, there are so many options. There are JV and varsity teams for most of them, so there is no pressure to excel. (Of course, if you want to, there are incredible coaches who will support you and help you grow even further.)

The Upper School is a special, spectacular, scholarly place. So enjoy our last moments at the Middle School, and be joyfully excited for this next chapter of our lives!