Grace Gives Sixth Graders the "Gift of Time"

It seems like our world is constantly pushing children to grow up faster. But at Grace School, we've taken a different approach. We see childhood as a precious time to be guarded and preserved. This is especially important during the critical transition of the preteens and early teen years.  For that reason, we see sixth grade as a special opportunity to preserve the innocence of childhood as well as a time to prepare our students for the changes ahead.

Matt Simms, Dean of Students at Grace Jr/Sr High states, “For many students, 7th grade brings a whole new world of experiences. They're navigating major physical, emotional, and mental changes as they mature. On top of that, they're often adapting to a new campus, which can mean:

• A larger, unfamiliar environment: Finding their way around can be daunting.
• Multiple teachers: Each with different teaching styles, expectations, and classroom routines.
• Managing a locker: A new responsibility that requires executive functioning skills like organization and memory.
• Increased independence: Greater expectations for self-management and time organization.

Juggling all these new factors can be a lot for anyone, especially young adolescents.”

Grace Elementary principal, Dustin Marvin agrees, "We’ve made an intentional decision to keep our sixth grade students at the elementary campus, granting them one more critical year of growth and maturation before they are expected to navigate the academic, social, and logistical challenges of an upper campus." By the time our students finish sixth grade, they can’t wait for junior high! The transition becomes a time of excitement and anticipation rather than fear and trepidation. 

Mr. Simms explains the benefits of giving sixth graders this “gift of time” this way; “At Grace, our transitional approach allows students:

• More time to mature: An extra year in a familiar setting to help them develop emotionally and mentally.
• A more gradual transition: The leap to middle school feels less abrupt, as they can solidify elementary school routines before facing the complexities of a new campus. Sixth graders at Grace rotate between two teachers and classrooms which allows them a more gradual transition to a more complex junior high schedule.
• Reduced stress: Less pressure to adapt to multiple new factors all at once can lead to a more positive and successful learning experience.

This phased approach acknowledges the unique developmental stage of 6th and 7th graders, prioritizing their well-being and readiness for the next academic step.”

As children enter the adolescent years, they naturally become more inquisitive and analytical. It is also a time when students begin asking big questions about God, life, truth and identity. Asking questions is a good thing as long as we know where to go for the answers. Head of School, Matt Cooper affirms, "At Grace, our goal is to equip students to think Biblically, make wise decisions, and look to Scripture as the ultimate authority. We cherish the opportunity to walk alongside our students through this critical season in their development." 

Our sixth grade program is tailored to build important technical and time-management skills that students will need in junior high. This includes extra time in the computer lab mastering the Google Suite and learning important principles of digital citizenship, building strong writing and communication skills, and practicing classroom transitions by switching between two sixth grade teachers for different subjects. 

We have also created multiple ways for our sixth graders to meet and interact with teachers and students from the upper campus which builds a relationship bridge from elementary to junior high. Being known as an incoming 7th grader helps students feel more confident because friendships have already started forming. Sixth graders who join band or choir will have the opportunity to perform alongside junior and senior high students in concert. Elementary robotics team members will have opportunities to collaborate with robotics students from the Jr/Sr High campus.  Finally, students who participate in the elementary musical theater program will often have the opportunity to audition for roles in the Jr/Sr High musical productions.

Because the pre-teen adolescent years are so critical in a child’s development, the administrators and teachers at Grace believe strongly in providing sixth graders with “The Gift of Time.” Time to:

• Grow academically, physically, and spiritually
• Mature in decision making and critical thinking 
• Lead as the “big kids” on campus inspiring them develop leadership skills
• Serve others, practice and model for the younger students
• Play which is an important aspect of development and naturally wanes in the late elementary years.

Why rush them through this final year in the first stage of academic development? We want to gently transition our elementary students into junior high and are committed to giving them The Gift of Time they need to grow, mature, lead, and serve.

Carissa Wilburn, Admissions Director in collaboration with the administrative staff at Grace School, Simi Valley, CA.. June 2025