Incoming sixth graders got an early start on their middle school experience at Charles D. Owen Middle School (CDOMS) last week, when more than 100 students came together for a special orientation designed to make the transition to middle school a little less intimidating.

Now in its fifth year, the program introduces students to their new building, teachers, and classmates before the first day of school. This year, eighth-grade mentors joined the incoming students, leading tours, participating in icebreakers and team-building activities, and answering questions about what life in middle school is really like.

“I want to make sure that they have a really good experience and that they have someone to look up to and to talk to,” said Karter, one of the eighth-grade mentors. “If they need help with anything, or if they get nervous, they’ll already know we’re here to help them.”

That mentorship effort has grown over recent years, said Michelle Allison, secondary academic interventionist at the school. Eighth graders receive training from Student Services before the event and continue meeting with their sixth-grade mentees throughout the school year. Dogwood Health Trust helps fund this and other programs at the school.

“The idea is that they come in on their first day with a little less anxiety and some familiarity,” Allison said.

CDOMS Principal Bradley McMahan said the day is particularly significant, because it brings together students from Black Mountain Elementary and W.D. Williams Elementary for the first time.

“We take a lot of pride, and we put a lot of thought into combining two communities from the same valley,” McMahan said. “Some of the friendships they’ll form today, they’ll have when they graduate from high school.”