No one ever says that middle school years are the best years of life. Absolutely no one. It is a truth universally acknowledged that the middle school/junior high years are difficult for everyone involved, but especially the kids themselves. I am fortunate that I went to a K-8 school and only struggled during my freshman year of high school.

My oldest wasn’t so lucky. Despite fearlessly walking into junior high on the first day of school with his head held high and shoulders back, he ended the day by dejectedly sliding into the passenger seat. Then he turned to me and said, “Mom, don’t make me go back there. Please, would you homeschool me?”

I could write a whole column about how I should never teach anyone anything, especially my children. But the point of this exchange is that his plea was not an isolated incident. It took until the following school year for him to get back on his feet.

Ask anyone why these years are so hard, and they’ll give you various reasons. The perfect storm of hormones. Going from the elementary school experience of one or two teachers in each grade to the seven class periods in middle school. Lockers, hormones, multiple floors, hormones, homework, Chromebooks, hormones, and so many more kids. It’s not one thing, and it is not because of the lack of effort by the schools to prepare 5th graders for the transition. It’s just hard.  Period.

What kind of an impact could our community make if we surrounded our middle schoolers with support and encouragement as they navigate this new world? Instead of finding their efforts to become independent humans annoying, we see them as our future. With their success comes ours as a community.

Because the middle school years are so impactful, the Center for a Vital Community is hosting our fifth set of Study Circles focused on middle schoolers.  Everyone is invited to take part in any or hopefully all of it.  Whether you’ve had a middle schooler, there’s one in your future, you work with them, they frequent your business, or you’re just interested in learning more about how you can help, join a Study Circle!

Study Circles are a process for public dialogue and community change. The process begins by inviting people from all parts of the community to work on this issue.

Next, many small, facilitated groups meet simultaneously across the county. They consider the issue from many perspectives and explore possible solutions.

Then, moving to action, people connect the ideas from the dialogues to outcomes that range from changes in an individual’s attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs to new community projects and collaborations, and even institutional and policy change.

  • Study Circles will be held at a variety of times and days for the convenience of participants
  • 8 to 12 people will be in each Circle coming from different parts of the community
  • Groups will meet for five two-hour sessions
  • Two facilitators will lead each group

Because this is a county-wide event and each middle school has unique issues, we’re hosting four kickoffs, one at each school. Here’s the schedule:

Big Horn Middle School – Monday, January 20, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Tongue River Middle School – Monday, January 20, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Arvada-Clearmont School – Tuesday, January 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Sheridan Junior High School – Wednesday, January 22, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

We start Study Circles the following week, and they’ll run from January 27 to March 7. A full schedule will be available at sheridancvc.org, and you don’t need to sign up in advance to attend.

Then, we bring the best ideas forward to put it all together at the Action Forum on March 12 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Hub on Smith’s Community Room.

Study Circles is not talking to talk. Real change happens when our community comes together around a subject they care about. Past Study Circles include conversations about mental health, poverty, and creating a dementia-friendly community. They all created initiatives that are still going strong and making significant impacts. Be a part of the solution! Give us a call at 675-0831 to learn more.

I promise it will be way better than the hairstyles and fashions you attempted in middle school.