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

MONROE — As the fall semester comes to an end, six Union County students reassigned to new schools offer advice to fellow classmates who might face the same challenge in the future.

Many started the semester nervous about making new friends and keeping the pace in difficult classes. Just a month later, they said they still talked to friends from their old schools but were making friends at the new ones. A few struggled in advanced courses, but all seemed to like their teachers, and sixth-graders were all too happy to have more freedom.

Some joined teams or clubs; others are waiting for next semester.

As well as they say they have adjusted, the majority said they wouldn’t want to be reassigned again.

The last part of the series will ask their parents to comment on the reassignment process.

Ashley Dixon

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

Q: What advice would you give students who might be reassigned? How would you suggest that they adjust to a new school?

A: “I actually had told my other friends in the neighborhood ... it’ll be OK. ... We’re supposed to go to Sun Valley, but I’m pretty sure Monroe Middle is the same or better. I would (tell them) I went through that, ... and it’s easy to be readjusted to. ... You won’t be missing anything.”

Q: There’s only a month left in the semester. What will you do differently next semester?

A: “I’m trying to get up my math score. ... I’m gonna try to get in more clubs. ... I’ll try to read a lot more after school even when we don’t have reading homework just to keep up and comprehend.”

Q: When it comes to sports and other extracurriculars, who do you cheer on — your old school or new school?

A: “At first, I cheered on Sun Valley, ... but I’m really cheering on Monroe now. ... They’re the best. ... I haven’t gone to any (basketball) games yet, but I’m planning to.”

Q: How would you feel if you were reassigned again?

A: “I would feel frustrated, especially if it was a good school I was planning to go to. I would be like, ‘Oh my gosh, this happened again.’”

Teal Brooks

Sixth grade, reassigned from the Piedmont cluster to Porter Ridge Middle

Note: Teal lives closer to Hemby Bridge Elementary, but attended Fairview Elementary because of 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: What advice would you give students who might be reassigned? How would you suggest that they adjust to a new school?

A: “Try to do your best. ... They might miss their friends and their other classes, ... (but) try to be yourself. Try to be a leader and not a follower.”

Q: There’s only a month left in the semester. What will you do differently next semester?

A: “I’m going to try to make the baseball team.”

Q: When it comes to sports and other extracurriculars, who do you cheer on — your old school or new school?

A: “I root for my new school because they’re, like, my school and I want to support them.”

Q: How would you feel if you were reassigned again?

A: “Nervous because I don’t really know a lot about another school.”



Jessica Sheehan

Sixth grade, reassigned from Sun Valley Middle to Monroe Middle

Q: What advice would you give students who might be reassigned? How would you suggest that they adjust to a new school?

A: “Try to put in the best you could and try to make as many friends as you can.”

Q: There’s only a month left in the semester. What will you do differently next semester?

A: “I think I’ll have the same friends I have now. ... I would say I’ll join the drama club.”

Q: When it comes to sports and other extracurriculars, who do you cheer on — your old school or new school?

A: “Monroe. Everyone I know is on the football team or the basketball team.”

Q: How would you feel if you were reassigned again?

A: “I wouldn’t mind that much because I would just fit in like I do (here).”



Lamar Patton

Ninth grade, reassigned from the Sun Valley cluster to Monroe High

Q: What advice would you give students who might be reassigned? How would you suggest that they adjust to a new school?

A: “Try out the school and don’t listen to what other people say about the school because it’s not as bad as half the people say it is.”

Q: There’s only a month left in the semester. What will you do differently next semester?

A: “I’m going to try to get more involved in school activities ’cause I’m not really involved in anything now since it’s the end of football season.”

Q: When it comes to sports and other extracurriculars, who do you cheer on — your old school or new school?

A: “Kind of both. I usually go to either one of the varsity games.”

Q: How would you feel if you were reassigned again?

A: “I’d probably feel the same way as when I had to go to Monroe. I missed my friends and I was kind of scared ’cause I didn’t know if I was going to make new friends. ... People were saying that the school was bad. It wasn’t as bad as people say it was.”

Kayla Taylor

Ninth grade, reassigned from Marvin Ridge cluster to Cuthbertson High

Q: What advice would you give students who might be reassigned? How would you suggest that they adjust to a new school?

A: “Try to go to all the open houses ... and meet the teachers ... so you know what they’re expecting. ... It’s always nice to know ... where all your classes are. And try to make a schedule so you know how to get to your classes when school starts. ... Be ready for harder classes, but stay focused and you’ll get through it.”

Q: There’s only a month left in the semester. What will you do differently next semester?

A: “Hopefully keep the same friends that I have. ... I haven’t really met any of the teachers for next semester, ... but I have two honors classes so definitely manage my time better. ... I have one honors class this semester and it’s really challenging.”

Q: When it comes to sports and other extracurriculars, who do you cheer on — your old school or new school?

A: “Both. I haven’t really went to any Marvin Ridge games except when we played them in volleyball one time. ... I’m not going to forget Marvin Ridge, ... but I’ll cheer on Cuthbertson over Marvin Ridge ’cause that’s my school now.”

Q: How would you feel if you were reassigned again?

A: “I would not like that ’cause I’d rather stay through all of my high school year. ... We’ve already been switched from middle school to high school, so I would not want to switch from high school to another high school because I think that would be hard on me. I would not appreciate that very much.”



Amanda Sica

11th grade, reassigned from Weddington High to Cuthbertson High

Q: What advice would you give students who might be reassigned? How would you suggest that they adjust to a new school?

A: “Be open minded and it’s not as bad as (you think it’ll be). You’ll make new friends.”

Q: There’s only a month left in the semester. What will you do differently next semester?

A: “Try to study more. ... Also, be more involved — more clubs maybe.”

Q: When it comes to sports and other extracurriculars, who do you cheer on — your old school or new school?

A: “I still go to both, but when they play each other, I’ll root for my school.”

Q: How would you feel if you were reassigned again?

A: “If I was reassigned back to Weddington, I wouldn’t mind, but if I was reassigned to a whole new school again, I would probably be really upset.”