Flet Middle School students stand in groups in their Nutrition Commons, talking before the school day begins.

The step from elementary school to middle school is a big one. Luckily, middle school counselors like Tatriana Muravez at Flett Middle School and Greg Smith at Sacajawea Middle School provide plenty of support and resources to prepare fifth grade students – and their families – for the transition to their schools as sixth graders.

And that’s when the work, really begins, as counselors work with sixth grade teachers, intervention teams, and students themselves to create positive learning experiences and opportunities for all.