New beginnings for 6th Grade

As school kicked off, I, Soren Goldberg-Butler, DJDS’s top investigative reporter for The Paw, decided to uncover what it is like to transition from elementary school to middle school. I had a burning question swirling in my mind: What’s the most significant difference between being an elementary school alpha and the new kid in the upper division?

On August 24, 12:23 PM, I grabbed my computer and phone and headed down to the Strear Family Gymnasium, the center of the action during lunch. There I spotted him, a small boy, standing patiently in line to play basketball, arguably the cutest kid I’d ever seen. He stood at about 3’11’’ with blond hair and hundreds of little freckles on his face. This kid held the answer to my questions.

“The biggest difference for me is all of the freedom,” said Micha Weizenfeld, a 6th grader. “We can kinda just do whatever we want and go wherever we want.” 

As I was making a deep dive into this investigative piece, I needed more insights. My gaze shifted across the gym to the side where the kitchen staff was constantly on edge, dodging volleyballs and basketballs to safeguard the school lunches. On that side of the gym, I encountered two girls and a small red-haired boy. I wondered about their take on these significant changes. 

“We feel the same way,” Max Hill said. “There is a lot more freedom in middle school.”  

This piqued my interest because, honestly, as a sophomore at Denver Jewish Day School, I don't typically associate lots of freedom with being a 6th grader. 

“I think we have more freedom in high school than in middle school,” said Abigail Sarikov, a DJDS sophomore. “I don’t really associate freedom with being a 6th grader” 

Indeed 6th graders don't have off-campus privileges, can’t venture far without their advisors, and aren't allowed to use their phones. Personally, I didn't even have a phone until 7th grade so I question whether 6th graders should have them at all. 

“I think I have more freedom,” said Livy Kaplan, a DJDS 6th grader “mostly because I don’t have to line up at the door when I want to leave, and I have more time to talk to my friends”.

This contrast seems to highlight the significant shift from being treated like a younger kid in the lower division to enjoying the liberty of conversing with friends during lunch in the upper division