I was ecstatic to come to Catlin Gabel! Although I really enjoyed my other school, I was excited to go to a new one for middle school. My other school was called Childpeace Montessori School and the school ended at 6th grade. At Childpeace I finished up Lower School and applied for Catlin. I ended up getting on the waitlist and about a month before school started, I got in! I was super happy about this.
On my visit day to Catlin, I loved it and my tour guide was Kam Khoury. I have known Kam for a really long time. He went to Childpeace for a long time until he, as well, switched to Catlin in 7th grade. There was one thing I did not enjoy, and that one thing was going into 7th grade. There was only one person I knew - Kyle. I played a season of lacrosse with Kyle and he even ended up being my host family. I wanted to start Catlin in 8th grade more than anything, which I knew was never going to happen. The only real reason I wanted to go into 8th grade so badly was because I knew quite a few people such as Alex Proctch, Kam Khoury, Lilly Wand, Keola and even Audrey (I didn't really know her but I met her at a summer camp.) The reason why I knew them and why I came to Catlin is because my sister. Most of the 8th graders I knew were my sister, Mara's, friends' siblings.
I really liked the people at the beginning of the year so it was already off to a good start. There were some people I had an instant connection to on the first day, like Boston and Rufus. As a joke, we called the three of us Squab. We all had science class together which was really fun, but later in the year I had a schedule switch and Squab was broken apart :( It was ok though because even later in the year, we had another scheduled switch reuniting Squab in English class. I have become good friends with lots of other people now and that's something I love, making friends in a new community.
I am really happy that I’m in 7th grade and no other grade could be filled with as many amazing people. There are zero regrets for my decision to come to Catlin, and I am so thankful to be a part of the community and to have such nice loving people around me.
Hi Carter Alfrey,
ReplyDeleteI like this blog post! I don’t understand what it’s like being a new kid but all my classmates talk about it. I like the part about Squab and how it broke up but got back together. Did it help having those people you knew?
FoxelephantVioleta
Dear Carter Alfrey,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog and how you included the different ways you knew some people coming into Catlin. I understand what it is like to be new and I am glad you are getting used to it, or at least that is what you seemed to express in your article. What are some ways you would have liked to be welcomed into the community easier?
Sincerely,
Soccer is Life
Hello Carter Alfery,
ReplyDeleteI read your blog and I can relate to it, but I didn't know anybody at Catlin only my sister's friends who were either Sophomores, juniors, or seniors. I hope you are happy at Catlin and continue to make more friends as more people join your class. You really are a fun person to talk to :) I was wondering if maybe you could expand on what you were feeling during the summer when you were still on the waiting list (I also was). Great post and relatable
MM_Z
Dear PortugueseGrape,
ReplyDeleteYour story is really compelling and I enjoyed it. I was wondering if you weren't going to get into catlin where were you going to go?
Sincerely,
NWfury
Dear PortugueseGrape,
ReplyDeletei loved your post, i felt like you really reached out to many kids that can relate to you that don't know how to put the way they feel on this topic into words. Also we are happy to have you at catlin you are a great addition to the grade and you are very likable. when you saw that you got in what doubts did you have and would you change anything in the past before coming into catlin?
bananabunny
hi portugesegrape
ReplyDeletei have been at catlin for a really long time, but i remember when i came in in kindergarten, i felt like i knew no one. i also remember people coming here in middle school, and it was always a little awkward at first, but our class has really become awesome with all the new kids, and I am so glad they all came. how was catlin been so far for you?
-gracie :)
hello PortugueseGrape,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post because i could relate to certain parts of it a lot. I went to Montessori for before I came to Catlin in the beginning school but I think you already know that. As I was reading this post I realized who you were so that was fun cause I have no idea who other people that i've commented on are. im curious, how has Montessori changed? how is it different from Catlin?
thanks,
liv
Dear PortugueseGrape,
ReplyDeleteI have an older sister that goes to Catlin too! I liked the way you wrote your blog but you probably could have gone deeper into your writing. Why did you write this?
Nice work,
PortugueseGrape
Hi Portuguese Grape,
DeleteDid you just write a comment to yourself? That’s hilarious! I really liked reading about new kids stories. I haven’t had the opportunity to be a new kids so it’s fun for me to read about everyone else’s experiences. What’s you favorite part of Catlin? What was better at your old school?
Slinkymuffin
Dear PortugueseGrape,
ReplyDeleteI don't have any older sisters, but I have three younger sisters, and I know what kind of struggle that can be. I've also been a new student in many different schools,so I know how that can feel as well. A question that I have for your post would be: what has been your favorite part of Catlin so far? Overall, I think you did a very good job in writing your post and it seems like you put a lot of time and effort into it. Good Job!
Sincerely, Pandas Are Cute 101
PortugueseGrape,
ReplyDeleteI can relate to being a new kid at Catlin and I think you summed up what its like really well. Do you miss the people at your old school and was it hard to change schools?
good job!
-tinyelephant
Hi PortugueseGrape,
ReplyDeleteI can't really relate to being a new kid but I can understand the struggles you must have gone through. I really enjoyed reading your blog because I could hear your opinion about being a new kid and the ups and downs. What's your favorite part of Catlin?
-Teeny Tiny Fury
hi portugesegrape,
ReplyDeleteI really like how personal you made your post. I like how you wrote about something that was hard. What is your favorite part of catlin?
Hi PortugueseGrape,
ReplyDeleteI love that you are liking catlin!! I am also very glad you have decided to make the switch here. I really liked how personal you got. If you did not go to catlin where else would you go?
Great Job,
George