Editor’s note: This is part three in a five-part series about how school reassignment affects students.

MONROE -- Six students said the school year was off to a good start last month when they summed up first impressions of their new schools.

All six are affected by reassignments from Union County Public Schools to fill new schools and relieve overcrowded ones. Poplin Elementary, Cuthbertson middle and high opened in August.

Last month, students said they still spend time with their old friends, but have made new ones as well. Some were already involved in clubs and sports; others were waiting for tryouts.

Sixth graders said they were enjoying the freedom of middle school. Some had pinpointed their least favorite subjects (and have since changed their minds), and a couple were steering clear of cafeteria food.

Ashley Dixon

6th grade, reassigned from Rocky River Elementary and the Sun Valley school cluster to Monroe Middle

Q: Do you feel like you fit in at your new school?

A: “Yeah. ... There are a lot of people like me that act like me. I feel comfort-

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able at the school.”

Q: Are your new friends different from the ones you had at your old school? How so?

A: “The personalities, yeah. ... You’re in middle school; you feel like they’re grown and more mature.”

Q: Is your school work challenging, or is it easy?

A: “It’s a little challenging ‘cause I’m in all AIG classes. ... It’s different work and a little bit more frustrating and more homework. I don’t understand as much as last year. Last year, I’d have homework every other day. This year, it’s every day (and) a lot more reading.”

Q: How do you spend your free time?

A: “Draw in my little design book, ... talk to my friends on the phone. And I like going outside on my bike.”

Q: Is it hard to be involved in the things you want to do, such as clubs, sports or plays?

A: “No. ... I’m still working on trying to get into band. I know next year I’m going to sign up for it. ... I got understudy (in a play).”

Q: What do you most look forward to during the school day?

A: “Probably social studies because we do a lot of cool projects. ... That and gym. ... We have a lot of fun there.”

Q: What do you least look forward to?

A: “Math ‘cause I just feel like it’s too complicated. I’m in AIG math and I feel like I should know it, but I don’t. It’s a little more challenging.”



Teal Brooks

6th grade, reassigned from the Piedmont cluster to Porter Ridge Middle

Note: Teal lives closer to Hemby Bridge Elementary, but attended Fairview Elementary due to a previous reassignment. Fairview is a split feeder to Porter Ridge and Piedmont middle schools. Teal will go to Porter Ridge Middle, which is closer to where he lives and the school that most of his neighborhood’s students attend.

Q: Do you feel like you fit in at your new school?

A: “Yeah.”

Q: Are your new friends different from the ones you had at your old school? How so?

A: “A little bit. Some of them are more mature than they used to be.”

Q: Is your school work challenging, or is it easy?

A: “It’s kind of in between ‘cause some of the tests are kind of hard and some of them are fairly easy.”

Q: How do you spend your free time?

A: “I usually play baseball and play with my friends. We usually play football in the yard.”

Q: Is it hard to be involved in the things you want to do, such as clubs, sports or plays?

A: “Not really.”

Q: What do you most look forward to during the school day?

A: “Science. That’s the thing I’m most best at and it’s my favorite subject.”

Q: What do you least look forward to?

A: “Spanish. We didn’t learn a lot of Spanish at our old school and it’s really hard to understand what the teacher is saying.”



Jessica Sheehan

6th grade, reassigned from Sun Valley Middle to Monroe Middle

Q: Do you feel like you fit in at your new school?

A: “Yes, I do.”

Q: Are your new friends different from the ones you had at your old school? How so?

A: “Not really. Most of them act the same and look the same.”

Q: Is your school work challenging, or is it easy?

A: “It’s easy.”

Q: How do you spend your free time?

A: “I hang out with friends.”

Q: Is it hard to be involved in the things you want to do, such as clubs, sports or plays?

A: “No. Cheerleading hasn’t started yet.”

Q: What do you most look forward to during the school day?

A: “Gym to hang out with my friends.”

Q: What do you least look forward to?

A: “Computer (class). You have to look at the computer and you can’t look at the keyboard.”



Lamar Patton

9th grade, reassigned from the Sun Valley cluster to Monroe High

Q: Do you feel like you fit in at your new school?

A: “Yeah, I do.”

Q: Are your new friends different from the ones you had at your old school? How so?

A: “Not really ‘cause some of them from Sun Valley are at Monroe.”

Q: Is your school work challenging, or is it easy?

A: “Kind of still the same. The work doesn’t seem difficult, but it doesn’t seem easy.”

Q: How do you spend your free time?

A: “I’m usually either at football practice or the house trying to relax.”

Q: Is it hard to be involved in the things you want to do, such as clubs, sports or plays?

A: “Not really because I just told my mom (about football) in the beginning and she helped me sign up for it.”

Q: What do you most look forward to during the school day?

A: ”Football practice ‘cause it’s fun.”

Q: What do you least look forward to?

A: “Math.”



Kayla Taylor

9th grade, reassigned from Marvin Ridge cluster to Cuthbertson High

Q: Do you feel like you fit in at your new school?

A: “Yes, I do. ... There’s a lot of different types of people. ... I think everyone feels welcome at that school.”

Q: Are your new friends different from the ones you had at your old school? How so?

A: “No, I don’t think so. I think they’re the same because I’m not going to change my personality just to make friends.”

Q: Is your school work challenging, or is it easy?

A: “Some classes, it could be easy, and then other classes, they just give us a lot of work. And plus I had volleyball on top of it, but now that the season is over I think it’ll be easier.”

Q: How do you spend your free time?

A: “Now that volleyball is over, I’ll be focusing on my studies and spending time with friends.”

Q: Is it hard to be involved in the things you want to do, such as clubs, sports or plays?

A: “Sports wise, I don’t think it was. For volleyball, there was no one who had to be cut. ... I think it’s actually easier. ... People didn’t realize (tryouts) were over the summer,” so some of them missed it.

Q: What do you most look forward to during the school day?

A: “Seeing my friends and learning new stuff.”

Q: What do you least look forward to?

A: “Having homework.”



Amanda Sica

11th grade, reassigned from Weddington High to Cuthbertson High

Q: Do you feel like you fit in at your new school?

A: “Yeah, definitely.”

Q: Are your new friends different from the ones you had at your old school? How so?

A: “Not really. It’s all the same personalities.”

Q: Is your school work challenging, or is it easy?

A: “This semester it’s pretty easy for me, but I think next semester it’ll be harder. My classes are just harder. I have more core classes.”

Q: How do you spend your free time?

A: “I have softball conditioning. ... I’ll go to the soccer games or football games.”

Q: Is it hard to be involved in the things you want to do, such as clubs, sports or plays?

A: “Not really. It’s actually ... easier because everything is new and you can pretty much sign up what you want.” Sica is involved in SADD, photography club, spirit club and the superintendent’s student advisory council.

Q: What do you most look forward to during the school day?

A: “Probably friends.”

Q: What do you least look forward to?

A: “Tests.”