SANDY — Left to 22. Right to 13. Left to 38.
Pull the locker lever and it opens smooth as butter — today, at least.
To a seventh-grader trying to finagle a troublesome combo lock the first day of school, the entire situation is borderline traumatic. Luckily the seventh graders at Mount Jordan Middle School got a half-day "trial run" to work out the bugs before their first "real" day of school Wednesday.
Stormy Finnegan, 12, said her uncooperative locker made her feel "scared and nervous" on Tuesday, but thanks to the practice day, she had no problems on Wednesday. Seventh-graders at all eight middle schools in Canyons School District get the sneak-preview day. The students then get to skip the last half-day of school.
"It's total experimental day," said Misty Suarez, Mount Jordan Middle principal.
The goal of the program, now in its fifth year, is to allow kids to meet their new teachers, learn where to catch the bus and learn how to find their classes. For generations, moving from elementary school to junior high has been seen as a rite of passage, and one that often comes with apprehension and worry. Prior to the program, some seventh-graders were in tears the first day of school, Suarez said, and some parents would show up with their kids and not want to leave them. "This helps diminish parents' anxiety," Suarez said.
The program has reduced the emotional first-day incidents, administrators say. "No more tears," Suarez said. "That alone is a huge accomplishment because it tells us they feel more comfortable after that half-day orientation."
Almost all the 200 seventh-graders enrolled attended the program Tuesday. They were joined Wednesday by the remaining 400 eighth- and ninth-graders for the first day of school.
"I like it just with seventh-graders," Marcus Brantley, 12, said on Tuesday.
Brantley admitted he misses elementary school already. "It's easier. You have one class. You don't have to walk all around the whole school and you don't get lost easily," he lamented.
During the four hour practice day, the seventh-graders receive their schedule and a map of the school — which they hold onto tightly.
Jarrett Brinkerhoff, 13, meandered through the building before finally landing, out of breath, in Room 204 upstairs for art. "I'm glad I have a map," he said. Students also were given a day planners to help them learn how to plan their homework assignments. Art teacher Albert Wise said, "I think time management is what they struggle the most with."
Sitting in the cafeteria for a pretend lunch Tuesday, the kids had a chance to chat and make friends while they munched on cookies that were 6 inches in diameter.
Seventh-graders told the Deseret News their biggest fears are too much homework, mean teachers, bigger kids who might pick on them, not knowing anyone and getting lost — and the ever-tricky lockers, of course.
"I feel stupid," said Khaitlyn Babble, 12, on Tuesday before she and her teacher finally gave up on the lock and went to find out if the number was correct.
Bullies are a big worry, agreed seventh-grade buddies Colton Robinson and Payton Kelly, both 12. By dressing tough, the two boys hope to show no fear. Tuesday, Kelly donned a mixed martial arts "Tapout" black T-shirt touting white skeletons and red wings. Robinson's white shirt touted black skeletons.
Halfway through Wednesday, Kelly said the bigger kids weren't all that bad. "I thought it was going to be pretty crazy at first, but it was OK," he said.
Alex Walker, 12, said, "They're a lot bigger."
Mount Jordan student body president Ciera Acerson said she doesn't know why the younger kids fear "the big kids" will do something like shove them into the lockers. "That really doesn't happen," she said.
Maria Soriano, math teacher at Mount Jordan, said, "It's a lot of anxiety. I know a lot of kids don't sleep the night before."
Tuesday's four-hour tour ended with a pep talk from school administration. "Everybody take a deep breath. Your first official day of school is over," said vice principal Doug Hallenback.
Suarez asked the group how they can be a success.
Robinson has the correct answer and is the first one with his hand in the air. "Good grades," he said.
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