Brooks Middle School Team Visits Sixth-Grade Homes

Editor's note: The following is a press release from . 

Principal Keith Wood and members of the Brooks administrative and teaching teams took to the streets today to visit the homes of students who will enter sixth grade at the Bolingbrook school this fall.

“Transitioning from elementary school to 6th grade can be scary,” Dr. Wood said before the group boarded three buses to head out into the community. “We just want to alleviate some of those concerns and extend our hands to our families.”

The Community Walk team included eight eighth-grade members of the Brooks National Junior Honor Society: Madon Dudaryk, Raelyn Erwin, Katie Czajka, Alan Morosco, Maria Castaneda, Aaliyah Okooboh, Lauren Harris and Brianna Holloway.

“When a sixth-grader comes to school for the first time, eighth-graders can be intimidating, so having an eighth-grader come to their door helps calm them a little bit,” said NJHS sponsor Danielle McDermott.

“I like helping people. It’s fun,” said NJHS student Alan Morosco. “Sixth grade isn’t hard if you think about what you’re doing. Get to know more people.  Get involved in sports and clubs because you can make new friends.”

Seventh-grader Kaitlyn Daybell also joined the Community Walk team following a personal invitation from Dr. Wood after she e-mailed him about how concerned she was last year coming into 6th grade.

“She was pleased with the assistance she got from 7th and 8th graders last year,” Dr. Wood said. “So I invited her to join the walk so she could help this year’s 6th graders.”

Roughly 455 students will comprise the Brooks 6th grade when school starts Aug. 22.