As we all know, the eighth graders are about to leave the school. But how do their advisory teachers feel about their students leaving middle school and entering high school? We asked teachers questions to find out what they had to say about their students.

How do you feel about your student leaving? 

Mr. Aleman

”It is always a sad feeling. I build connections with my students and I truly care for their success. Seeing them leave makes me sad because I will not be able to be there for them since they have to go to a new school. I am also happy because they are growing and get to experience a new chapter in their life.”  

Mr. Lo

”It is always bittersweet when eighth grade students transition to high school. On one hand, I am sad to see students that I have taught and worked with leaving the school and I will miss them. On the other hand, I know they are moving on to the next step in their journey to becoming the best version of themselves and for that I am excited.” 

Ms. Alamilla

“I feel excited but also sad. It’s always bittersweet. I am excited for new doors and opportunities for my students and new memories. I’m sad because some students I’ve known since they were in sixth grade and am used to seeing them every day, Like some of my student council students, and there is a good chance I will never see them again. It’s so dramatic but true.”

Ms. Briseno

“Bittersweet – Since I’ve been a teacher at AJMS, I’ve mostly taught eighth grade, so I’m a little used to seeing my students go on to high school at the end of the school year. However, I’ve had almost the same group for advisory since we returned to school from the pandemic, and while I’m glad they’ve grown up, it’s also a little sad to say bye to them at the end of this school year. These three years have flown by!” 

Ms. Thomas

“I feel really sad because my first year of teaching here at Jefferson, I started the very first day of school, the first class was only advisory. We’ve gone through three years together and I’ve learned a lot and they’ve learned a lot. I just don’t know this school without that group of students. So it’s gonna be really weird for me to be here and not see those students cause I’ve never had that before. I started with those students, my first year of teaching was with these students, so they’re my first class of students who are graduating.  I’ve known them for three years…I don’t know this school without you guys so yeah, it’s gonna be weird. I’m sad to get new kids because we have a good thing going, in my advisory we’re chill”

All the teachers feel sad that their students are leaving because they have been with their students since 6th grade. But at the same time they are happy that their students are moving into a chapter of their lives. 

What is your favorite moment with your class?

Mr. Aleman

“My favorite moment is playing the competition games in the gym with my advisory class. It was very fun shouting and being loud cheering for our advisory class to win the games.” 

Mr. Lo

“I have a lot of favorite moments with my classes. As a teacher, the best moments are those where students overcome challenges in what they are learning and have that “Aha!” moment. I’m a true believer in putting in the effort to learn. If you can learn one thing as a middle schooler that will set you up for life, it is the idea that learning takes effort and time, so to learn you must put in EFFORT and TIME. Outside of math, my favorite moments are those where I get to learn a little more about my students: what their hobbies are, what they do in their spare time, what their favorite foods are, what excites them about their future, what they worry about, etc.”

Ms. Alamilla

“Each class is so different that it’s hard to choose. I like that in every class we are able to laugh and enjoy our time spent together. My hope is that being in room 115 has good memories, either because of the people in it, what you learned or your time spent because you’re not getting that time back. But I hope my students had a good time because learning is fun and enjoyable and that’s what I try to provide for you all each day.”

Ms. Briseno 

“Oh, this is difficult to answer because I feel like there are a lot… I can’t think of one in particular, but generally, one of my favorite moments in the classroom is when I can see the moment that a student understands the thing we’re learning about in class. They struggle through it, but they have the “aha!” or lightbulb moment – whatever you want to call it – and they get it and then use it on their own. The skills we teach are not just for a grade in the class, but for everything students do afterwards. I also enjoy their big imaginations and silly jokes.”

Ms. Thomas

“My favorite memories with my class are all the times we had the advisory competitions in the gym. Our class would always come together and get into it, which made it a lot of fun – especially because we usually won!”

Most of the teachers find it hard to answer this question because they like seeing their students overcome challenges and understand what they are learning, as well as coming together to do fun things. Others just like the laughs they have with their class, being loud, students’ big imaginations, or their silly jokes.