West Essex Students Enjoy Move Up Day

West Essex Regional School District's Move Up Day was a success with students following their 2014-15 schedules.
Sixth graders from the Essex Fells, North Caldwell, Roseland and Fairfield sending districts visited West Essex Middle School together as a class for the first time on June 12.
All other students followed their 2014-15 schedules, meeting new teachers and classmates. It was a big day for current eighth graders who visited the high school to find their way through their freshman year schedules.
"My classes for freshman year are all good so far," said current eighth grader Max Knopping as he left freshman English with Mrs. Diane Gray.
Teachers Marion Callahan and Lisa Pengitore showed high school students in chemistry how an antacid works in a colorful "upset tummy" experiment in a large beaker in front of the classroom to give students a taste of the exciting school year beginning in September.
Meanwhile, the Middle School hallways were full of guidance counselors and administrators helping students find their way to class and making the incoming seventh graders feel more comfortable. Physical Education Teacher Michele Riker spoke to new students about what is expected of them in class next year.English teachers spoke about summer reading assignments. Some gave evaluations to determine a student's level or knowledge for the upcoming school year.Middle School Social Studies Teacher Louis Ferrara help up the American Flag as he spoke to his future eighth graders about the curriculum for U.S. History and told the students about their summer assignment, to visit an historical site.
Current seventh grader Sarah Malone listened to Mr. Ferrara's presentation and said she felt very good about Move Up Day because it relieves stress for students for the new school year. "So far so good," she said. "I really like going to my classes ahead of time and not being uncomfortable on the first day of school."