As we prepare to officially celebrate our Graduating Class of 2026 this coming Saturday at the Lake Side venue, we are also focusing on the other end of Secondary School - transitioning our Grade 5 students into Middle School. Both of these events are milestones for our students and our parents.

I think of my own experience of my daughter leaving Primary School. I have to be honest, I felt very similar back then as I do now on the brink of her Grade 12 graduation ceremony. In fact, I feel more confident now about Helena’s future than I did at the end of Grade 5. Even though I was teaching Middle School at the time and had seen countless students sail through, it was hard. Watching your sweet child transition into an adolescent can be very emotional and full of uncertainty, especially for parents experiencing this for the first time. The Middle School years are no joke as children test boundaries and values. As they begin to crave independence and friends become more important, it is not only confusing for the children, but also for us. Part of the reason we created a ‘Middle School’ at ICS was to invest the necessary attention and resources into this time period.

The care we place on the transition to Middle School is intentional and a fine balance with preparing students and not overwhelming them. This week the Grade 5s took part in a ‘Transition Day’. They joined a Middle Assembly to kick off the day and then followed a Grade 6 schedule. They experienced different classes and teachers and they will even get to buy snacks and lunch at the cafeteria. At points during the day, they also had the opportunity to ask current Grade 6s and staff any burning questions. In parallel, the Middle School team has been busy meeting with the Grade 5 team to learn about the students coming into Grade 6. We consider the needs of each child carefully so that they have the right environment to flourish and find their path through to graduation.

I do want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the multiple people that have nurtured my daughter at ICS. She started at age two and I attribute so much of her character, skills and talents to our ICS family. The care she experienced alongside the excellent IB education has played a direct role in who she is today. For every interest she had, she had an adult to support and encourage her. From musicals in Primary to MUN, Visual Arts and Duke of Edinburgh in Secondary, she had passionate people leading her each year. She even enjoyed the DP classes that she dreaded taking (having to choose them for her tertiary path), such as Economics and Math. The teachers truly made the difference for her and instilled in her a deep appreciation for these subjects.

Parents of Grade 5 students, I feel confident that you will have the same experience. While Middle School can seem daunting and the adjustment can take time, we have a great team of amazing staff who truly care about your child and who are invested in their success. Trust us, we know what we are doing and we are reminded of it each year at this time when we proudly cheer on our graduates as they walk across the stage. This will be my 20th ICS graduation ceremony and one of my favourite parts each year are the alumni who come back (often to watch their sibling graduate) and share with me how much ICS meant to them. While they were students here, many did not realise how special this community was, but now as successful adults, they realise how formative our community was. Some even apologise for Middle School behaviour!

To the parents of the graduating class, congratulations! This is an incredibly wonderful, resilient and brilliant cohort. We know it was not always smooth sailing throughout the whole journey, but each moment led up to now. To all parents, I cannot express my gratitude to this community enough for the support of my children. You have chosen the right school to partner with in your child’s/children’s holistic development. If there are any graduates reading, congratulations to you, enjoy every moment of celebrating this week! To my Helena, you are magnificent! If I had known the amazing woman you would turn out to be when you were in Grades 5-7, I would have slept so much better.
 

In partnership,

Lindy Hirt
Middle School Principal