middle school experience essay

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Middle School: My Experience

Middle school is a… well, interesting  experience, but nonetheless integral to one’s life. It’s something everyone goes through, at one point.

I’m about to be thrown into high school in less than six months. It really made me think, because here I am, in the 8th grade, 13 years old, and not prepared for it at all. I realized how much I’ve taken middle school for granted- going through every day quickly and carelessly without really cherishing them.

As much as I’d like to argue it: middle school could’ve been an amazing part of my life, but I’ll never get it back.

Middle school are the years when you place yourself. When you figure out who you are, or who you want to be, while at the same time gaining experiences from different things. You find a group of friends who really are  friends and stick with them, rather than hang out with everybody. It’s a time for many where belonging and fitting in is more important than academics (which it really shouldn’t be).

The thing is, at middle school and especially  my  school, you can’t do anything without being unfairly judged. The words that everyone tells you, “just ignore them,” doesn’t exactly work. As far as anyone is concerned- middle school is the world and that’s it. Who’s wearing what and who’s dating who is apparently all that matters.

And the thing is, more than we’d like to admit, we’ve all grown up with each other- believe it or not. Some since kindergarten, and some joined the journey along the way. So, even if we did want to find new friends or hang out with a new group of people, they’re never  new.  You’re affiliated with every single person in some way: “She was in my 5th grade homeroom class” or “We didn’t get along back in the 2nd grade.” Yes, people still remember that one time when so-and-so stole your juice box when we were eight. But not only does this deter you from making new friends, this also makes everybody believe that they have the right to judge everyone on what they do or say, since we’ve all “known each other for so long.”

The fear of getting judged makes you overthink your outfit choices, how you present yourself, and even worse, your personality. Middle school is where it all starts.

But, to put it bluntly: I enjoyed middle school up until I hit the 8th grade.

Why? Because when I was in the 5th and 6th grade, I was still a kid. And I know, I’m only 13 right now, I don’t have much space to speak- but really. I was only 9-11 years-old and to be honest, those are the last years I had before I hit the awkward ones. Once I was 12 years-old, I was in that weird space between child and teenager and people always seemed to be treating me as one or the other, and I found myself impatiently waiting for my 13th birthday to come.

I regret this immensely.

Instead of just letting myself be a kid for that last year, I tried to rush into being 13. I’m now turning 14 in less than four months and I’ve realized that being 13 years old hasn’t been the fantasy I once thought it would be. Instead, I experienced my first heartbreak (don’t ask), had truly felt stress for the first time, struggled to keep my grades up, worried about my future, dealt with horrible rumours being spread about me, lost many friends, started having rocky relationships with some loved ones, all the while trying to find myself. As much as these things seem unconcerning to many, it’s tough to deal with this kind of stuff at 13.

There was a point where I dreaded going to school and begged my parents to let me stay home. But, there was also a point where I decided to just face whatever I needed to at school. A point where I got stronger mentally, and didn’t need to avoid going there for a few people who thought that spreading untrue rumours about me and this one other person would be their form of entertainment.

I found that a quote that said:

That is what motivated me to finish off my Grade 7 and 8 years.

To conclude this post, I’m going to say a cliché thing that’s spoken too often, but is quite honestly one of the truest statements to exist. T hings do get better.  Everybody goes through hardships. It’s up to you how you’ll deal with them, and how you’ll get through them. If you’re going through something, speak to someone, because fake happiness is truly the worst sadness.

Go to school. No matter how two-faced people are, how hard the work is: school is important. Focus on what matters most. Your family, your friends, your academics. Don’t get distracted by things that won’t matter in the long run.

All in all, I garnered experiences in middle school, experiences that I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. I reckon these will stay with me my entire life.

STAY IN TOUCH

© Youth Central

• Oct 25, 2022

Personal Narrative Writing in Middle School: Digging Deeper

Updated: Oct 25, 2022

For years, I didn't do personal narrative writing in middle school. In fact, I wrote an entire blog post about why I didn't do it . Main reason...it's been done before in many years prior to when those students came to you, especially if teachers prior use writing workshop.

However, I've grown to embrace it again. The biggest reason why is because I think it helps build a classroom community. I decided to go with personal narrative instead of my usual fiction writing in response to reading during the pandemic. I felt, since the kids were remote, this was a good way to get to know each other a little better.

I did peruse Lucy Calkins' Personal Narrative unit for the digital notebook, however, as I went through the unit, I changed a lot.

I like to have the students do a quick narrative based on a person in their lives . The idea of writing about a special moment with a person has been done a lot up until this point so I feel it's an easy way to get a sense of where they are. I have them start with listing moments with an important person. They pick one of those moments to write about.

I don't necessarily need an entire story; I just want them to show me what they can do.

Getting Started

If you don't know already, a personal narrative focuses on a small moment , not an entire day, trip, game, etc. In the earlier grades, teachers spend a lot of time on this (think less watermelon, more seed). At this point, I feel that students just need a refresher.

I like to do this through mentor texts . I provide students with actual written student narratives from my past students. (Here are two you can use. These are by actual students, so definitely not perfect examples. Student Narrative #1 and Student Narrative #2 ).

Students go in to highlight specifically the small moment components of the stories. We discuss how these stories are small moments (or not) and they also start analyzing what the stories did well (or not).

I think it is super valuable to see other students' stories to give students perspective of what's expected or what can be improved.

Brainstorming

Students begin to brainstorm by thinking of a place that is important to them. I tell them to be as specific as possible.

Their idea may be big, but then they make a map of the place. The map is more focused on the moments that happened in the place. They then pick one of those moments in the place and write long about it.

Next, I have students write about moments that mattered. For this, I like to do Show and Tell . I tell students a few days before to bring in an item that is important to them. This should symbolize something or someone that is important in their lives. This goes so well! It goes beyond just what the objects are, but also what they can represent.

They use that object to brainstorm ideas within the topics of "first times", "last times", and "moments I learned something" . For example, I showed a picture of my husband and me at my brother's wedding. This was important to me because it was the first time I had left my son with another babysitter. I was dealing with post-partum anxiety. This stemmed lots of ideas: first time I left my son with a babysitter, first time I had an anxiety attack, the LAST time I had an anxiety attack, the first time I changed a diaper, the moment I learned it's important to enjoy small things, etc.

I start with students focusing on story structure . I have them look at short stories to do this. I really like "Eleven" and "Fish Cheeks". They are short and sweet and are great models for personal narrative.

They fill out the chart for those stories. We discuss, then they plan their own stories on a story structure chart.

The next day we focus on internal and external . This is something we cover in our unit prior. I do a Deep Study of Character before this and we often get into internal and external characteristics of characters. For writing, they focus on what they could be thinking (internal) in each part of their chart and what they could be doing (external) in each part.

Like everything else, we look at short stories first to see how these mentor authors do the same.

Before getting into the actual writing, I spend a day on Show Don't Tell . There are so many things you can do with this, but here's how I do it .

I usually break down each part of the story structure chart by day. So, I will do exposition one day, rising action another, etc. I will start each day with them looking at mentor expositions, etc. Each year, I've done different things. I also share MY PERSONAL NARRATIVE. This is so important; you HAVE to write what the students are expected to write .

A few things I've done:

I would share a Doc with a page or two out of a shared read aloud. I'd give them specific questions that focus on that part of the story map; for example, "how did Jason Reynolds introduce the characters in this chapter?".

I'd have them go back into whatever books they are reading and answer similar questions ("how did the author introduce setting/problem/solution?" "how did the author show feelings/thoughts/actions?").

I always share with them MY exposition, rising action, etc. Sometimes I just read it to them, other times I have them work with partners to look for similar things mentioned in the bullets before this.

It's important to look at mentors. I don't just have them go and write the whole story in a day. It's so important to break it up.

There are so many different lessons you can do. I always have to remind myself that you don't have to teach them EVERY thing. I try to keep revision pretty straightforward.

Of course, there is editing; focusing on grammar, punctuation, spelling. I like to tie in anything I do with mentor sentences or vocabulary . It's a good idea to connect it to anything you do for grammar or word study.

Four major areas of revision as per the Lucy Calkins' unit:

Looking at mentor sentences and trying it out with their own writing.

Finding the heart of the story.

Stretching out scenes (finding a moment that can use more detail and stretching it).

Slowing down the problem scene.

I don't always commit to these exactly. I do like to spend time on dialogue and elaboration . I really get into how important it is to punctuate it properly and how to tag it so it shows more description.

I also revisit their showing and not telling slides and have them apply it to their writing.

One of the very last things I do in the revision stage is have them do critique groups . This is a bit different than just them swapping Docs with each other and commenting. It's more of a dialogue.

Lastly, they finalize their draft and put it on a Padlet . This is used for lots of things. Guardians are able to see their writing. They can see each other's writing. And I have a spot with ALL of their stories.

Bottom Line

While personal narrative has been done, there is always room to grow. I really feel it depends on the group you have. It's a nice way to start the year to get to know each other. I usually spend about a month on the entire unit.

Click below to get my digital notebook for the unit!

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Home — Essay Samples — Education — Middle School — The Lessons I’ve Learned In Middle School

The Lessons I’ve Learned in Middle School

• Categories: Middle School Personal Experience

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Published: Sep 1, 2020

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65 Engaging Personal Narrative Ideas for Kids and Teens

Tell a story to engage the reader.

Personal narrative essays are all about telling stories. Engage your reader with lots of descriptive language, and ensure you have a beginning, middle, and end. ( Get more tips about teaching narrative writing here. ) Try these personal narrative ideas to inspire kids and teens to tell meaningful stories from their own lives, no matter what they’ve experienced.

“Describe a Time When You …” Personal Narrative Ideas

Firsts and bests personal narrative ideas, general personal narrative essay ideas, college essay personal narrative ideas.

These personal narrative ideas urge students to dig into their past experiences and share them with their audience. Be sure to share the details, including what took place and how it made you feel, and anything you learned from the experience.

Describe a time when you:

• Were scared
• Overcame a big challenge
• Learned an important life lesson
• Had to make a difficult decision

• Were proud of a friend or family member
• Did something you didn’t want to and ended up liking it
• Met a celebrity or someone you really admire
• Tried something new
• Made a mistake and had to apologize and/or fix the mistake
• Were in danger
• Helped someone in need
• Had a dream come true
• Felt inspired
• Had a really terrible day

• Were a leader
• Made someone else laugh
• Did something you later regretted
• Set a goal and achieved it

These essay topics explore the times you did something for the first time ever, or when you were the best version of yourself.

• Write about meeting your best friend for the first time and how your relationship developed.

• Tell about learning to ride a bike or drive a car.
• Tell about your proudest moment.
• What is your happiest memory?
• What is your earliest memory?
• Explain what it’s like to move to a new town or start a new school.
• What’s the best (or worst!) vacation you’ve ever taken?
• Tell the story of the time you got your first pet.
• Describe your favorite field trip of all time.
• Tell the story of your first day of kindergarten.
• What’s the best meal you’ve ever eaten?
• Describe the best party or celebration you’ve ever attended.
• Tell about the first time someone ever paid you for work (first job, chores for a neighbor, babysitting, etc.) and how it made you feel.

• Describe the first time you spent a night away from home without your family.
• What’s the best gift you’ve ever been given?

Here are more personal narrative topics to inspire young writers.

• Describe a performance or sporting event you took part in.
• Explain the process of cooking and eating your favorite meal.
• Write about a time when you or someone you know displayed courage.
• Share the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you.
• Describe a time when you or someone you know experienced prejudice or oppression.

• Explain a family tradition, how it developed, and its importance today.
• What is your favorite holiday? How does your family celebrate it?
• Describe your morning routine from the time you wake up until the moment the school bell rings to start the day.
• Share what you do on a typical non-school day.
• Tell about a time when you were injured. How did it happen?
• Describe an argument you and a friend had and how you resolved it.
• Tell about what you think your life will be like when you’re 25 years old.
• Explore a time when you felt you were treated unfairly.
• What makes your family different from everyone else’s family?
• If you could relive any day in your life, what would it be? Would you want it to be the same or different?

These personal narrative essay topics all come from real 2022–2023 college applications. ( See more college essay prompts here. )

• Discuss a time when reflection or introspection led to clarity or understanding of an issue that is important to you.
• Share an example of how you have used your own critical-thinking skills on a specific subject, project, idea, or interest.

• Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you.
• Reflect on a personal experience where you intentionally expanded your cultural awareness.
• When was the last time you questioned something you had thought to be true?
• Reflect on a time when you or someone you observed had to make a choice about whether to act with integrity and honesty.
• Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.
• Describe a time when you were challenged by a perspective that differed from your own. How did you respond?
• Elaborate on an activity or experience you have had that made an impact on a community that is important to you.

• Describe any meaningful travel experiences you’ve had.
• Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it.
• What is the greatest compliment you have ever been given? Why was it meaningful to you?
• What has been your best academic experience in the last two years, and what made it so good?
• Describe a time when you’ve felt empowered or represented by an educator.
• Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

What are your favorite personal narrative ideas? Come share on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out the big list of essay topics for high school (100+ ideas) ., you might also like.

15 Inspiring Personal Narrative Examples for Writers

Reveal a part of yourself in your essay. Continue Reading

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Classroom Q&A

With larry ferlazzo.

In this EdWeek blog, an experiment in knowledge-gathering, Ferlazzo will address readers’ questions on classroom management, ELL instruction, lesson planning, and other issues facing teachers. Send your questions to [email protected]. Read more from this blog.

Students Share Their Best School Experiences and What We Can Learn From Them

• Share article

Today, five students from my classes contribute short pieces about their favorite moments, and what others might be able to learn from them.

You might also be interested in these two other posts:

• Students Describe Their Favorite Teachers
• ‘He Was a Very Good Listener’ - Students Write About Their Most Memorable Teachers

Response From Leslie Servin

During my time in high school I had it really good moments, but my best moments that I’ve experienced are in a particular class during my senior year, in Sacramento, Calif. So I was basically a new student in these kind of classes and also I’m English learner. I remember my first presentation in this class. I didn’t want to do it, but finally I did it and that one was my best moment. When I went to present I felt afraid, and then when I presented I felt so good for the effort I applied on. Now I feel so much better than my first day of presentations because I now know that I can do whatever I want to do. The learnings that I acquire made it so good this moment because I know that I have to trust on me. Something teachers or students can learn from my experience is that we have to overcome our fears and not let them control ourselves because we can’t know our capabilities if we are afraid.

Response From Jesneel Singh

The best moment in class was when I was in 9th grade in sixth period. That was when I got into poetry and spoken word. Having that “character and scene” class made my life even greater. Not knowing anything about poetry, hating on poems about reading and writing it in the past. That class was fun in many ways. For example; there was this one time where we had to write our own plays and poems and perform them in front of the class. I felt alive, and the creative side of me came out. When I wrote my first poem in freshman year. I realized that it was fun and unique. I felt like I wanted to write more and more. When I performed my first poem to that class I found my passion. Since that day and today I have written over 400 poems and made two books. I have performed on many stages in small audience and in school. That was a good day for me because I can write my thoughts down and write the truth about the world. Teachers and students can learn from this experience that, you can find what best fits you.

Response From Nancy Ramirez

I would say my best class moment would be from my sophomore year in high school. For my Spanish class, our teacher decided we would do a class circle (Editor’s note: see “How To Practice Restorative Justice in Schools” for more information on class circles) for the day. She asked us a sequence of questions which required us to give a more in depth and heartfelt answer each time, starting with something along the lines of “How are you feeling?” and ending with “Why do you think that is?” A class circle which only should have lasted one day extended to three, with each and every single one of us having to share our deepest and darkest fears and insecurities. By then it felt more than just a class and opened my eyes to very different ways of teaching styles. I believe there is much to learn from this experience, both then and now. I have come to deeply appreciate not only the class but the teacher as well. This experience showed me the extent a relationship with your classmates and your teacher can go....

Response From Oscar Salazar

The best moment I’ve ever experienced in school was last year when I was a sophomore. I took biology last year and towards the end of the year we got to dissect a fetal pig. I know that it sounds gross but it’s really not. That’s what I thought at first too. I did lots of fun experiments in that class that were new to me, such as making a small ecosystem in a bottle and dissecting owl pellets to find mouse skeletons. I think that these experiences were really fun and interesting. I’ve never done anything like that in a class before.

I think that when teachers introduce students to hands-on activities and projects the students enjoy it more. Since we have more energy it’s a good use of it. We learn better when we’re allowed to move around and be creative. Our lives aren’t going to be pen on paper or books forever. It’s best to get us students to explore the world using our skills that we learn and strengthen our understanding of daily life that is sometimes hidden from us and exposed to us abruptly once we turn into adults.

Response From Kayla Guzman

What has been my best moment in a class? I’ve had many great moments but perhaps the most best moment took place in my English class about a month ago. I had a 10-15 minute presentation and I felt pretty confident. 30 minutes before my presentation I decided to incorporate an actor for visual appeal, to correspond with my presentation. I felt even more confident, assure that I would captivate the audience’s attention and keep them engaged. When my presentation started, I gave a signal to my actor which led me to drop my 8 notecards all over the floor. I was aware that the time was ticking, so I quickly grabbed all the notecards off the floor. I became overwhelmed with embarrassment, listening to the echoing laughter of the audience as I tried to rearrange the cards. The cards in my hand then became extremely restraining. My anxiety levels rose, and the disorganized cards just added stress to my emotions. I placed the cards down, and felt a great sense of relieve. My words, my explanations, my connections all flowed out my mouth with harmony, and I felt more natural and free as I presented my topic.

My presentation was a diagnosis of a character with schizophrenia, explaining the symptoms and the reasoning behind my diagnosis. The movement of my hands and my exaggeration presented by a drive of passion, along with my visual representative, kept the audience captive. I felt like a completely different person. By the end of the presentation I was sweaty, not by nervousness but because I left it all on the floor. I realized that the key to presenting with people is not getting their attention just by visual appeal. You need to let your heart pour out so that you can captivate their hearts, reach their souls. You can’t just be the center of attention, you need to give the audience attention, you need to talk to them. First and foremost, you can’t present without emotions. Anything you present should be built off of passion. As long as you can find a connection between yourself and the topic and exude your passion, you will keep the audience engaged.

Thanks to Nancy, Jesneel, Kayla, Leslie, and Oscar for their contributions!

(This is the last post in a three-part series. You can see Part One here and Part Two here .)

The new “question-of-the-week” is:

What was the best moment you ever had in the classroom?

In Part One , Jen Schwanke, Amy Sandvold, Anne Jenks, and Sarah Thomas shared their top moments. You can listen to a 10-minute conversation I had with them on my BAM! Radio Show . You can also find a list of, and links to, previous shows here. In Part Two , Meghan Everette, Jeryl-Ann Asaro, Jeffery Galle, and Kara Vandas shared their memories. I also included comments from readers.

Please feel free to leave a comment with your reactions to the topic or directly to anything that has been said in this post.

Consider contributing a question to be answered in a future post. You can send one to me at [email protected] . When you send it in, let me know if I can use your real name if it’s selected or if you’d prefer remaining anonymous and have a pseudonym in mind.

You can also contact me on Twitter at @Larryferlazzo .

Anyone whose question is selected for this weekly column can choose one free book from a number of education publishers.

Education Week has published a collection of posts from this blog, along with new material, in an e-book form. It’s titled Classroom Management Q&As: Expert Strategies for Teaching .

If you missed any of the highlights from the first six years of this blog, you can see a categorized list below. They don’t include ones from this current year, but you can find those by clicking on the “answers” category found in the sidebar.

This Year’s Most Popular Q&A Posts

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I am also creating a Twitter list including all contributors to this column .

Look for the next “question-of-the-week” in a few days.

The opinions expressed in Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.

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Food is not just eating.  Farm-to-table restaurant LavkaLavka is a new Russian cuisine restaurant. They are not trying to recreate 18th century cuisine, but instead to keep these traditions and respectfully follow them it in their daily work. Their timeline ignores 20th century trends of gastronomic degradation in Russia. They cook and work like nothing happened, as if cuisine just naturally developed into present.

PLAY AT  WALKS WITH FOLKS

Great tours with fantastic guides. Join Walks with Folks for unforgettable private tours in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and the Golden Ring of Russia. All their tours are available in English, Spanish, German and French.

SAINT PETERSBURG

Peter The Great established the Russian Empire in 1721, although the Romanov dynasty had been in power since 1613. One of Russia's most charismatic and forceful leaders, Peter built the foundations of empire on a centralised political culture and promoted "westernisation" of the nation. As part of this effort he moved the capital from the history rich city of Moscow to Saint Petersburg, a city built at a great expense and by a great effort of the Russian people. Best architects from France and Italy were involved designing the city. Saint Petersburg became known as Russia's "Window on the West" and adopted the manners and style of the royal courts of western Europe, even to the point of adopting French as its preferred language.

Travel to St. Petersburg, a port city on the baltic sea by plane, train, bus or even boat (Full details at: Russia ). It was the imperial capital for 2 centuries, having been founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, subject of the city's iconic “Bronze Horseman” statue. It remains Russia's cultural center, with venues such as the Mariinsky Theatre hosting opera and ballet, and the State Russian Museum showcasing Russian art, from Orthodox icon paintings to Kandinsky works. Visit the Savior on the Spilled Blood, Palace Square, the Winter Palace and the State Hermitage Museum, all in the same area. Travel to The Peterhof Palace,  a series of palaces and gardens commissioned by Peter the Great as a direct response to the Palace of Versailles by Louis XIV of France. 

SLEEP AT  RENAISSANCE ST PETERSBURG BALTIC HOTEL

Prime location with incredible views.  Immerse yourself in the rich history and unique style of one of Russia's most captivating cities at Renaissance St. Petersburg Baltic Hotel. The prime city center location, sophisticated accommodations and superb services make the hotel an ideal destination for both business and vacation travellers. Attend events at Expoforum and Lenexpo, or explore the famous attractions nearby including St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Hermitage Museum, Nevsky Prospekt Street and the Mariinsky Theatre. 

SLEEP AT  TREZZINI PALACE HOTEL

A reflection of the imperial St. Petersburg.  Trezzini Palace is a five-star de luxe hotel for those who value luxury and can enjoy it. It is located in house 21 on University embankment. The building was constructed in the XVIII century upon the design developed by one of the main architects of St. Petersburg – Domenico Trezzini. Trezzini Palace offers kingly apartments uniting marvelous design and five star service to its valued guests.

EAT AT  STROGANOFF STEAK HOUSE

Great food and excellent atmosphere. Stroganoff Steak House is the largest steak house in Russia and one of the biggest in Europe. Its area is 1246 sq. m, while the seating area is 450. The restaurant was opened on the 10th of May, 2007 in the center of St. Petersburg in a historical building where barracks and stables of the Horse Guards were located before the Revolution.

EAT AT  RUSSIA VODKAROOM #1

Imperial 19th century dining.  Russian Vodkaroom #1 was opened in 2008. The whole concept of the project takes you back to the imperial 19th century. The chef Andrey Vlasov is justly considered to be one of the best specialists in Russian cuisine. He is a repeat winner of local and national professional exhibitions, awards, and competitions.

PLAY AT  RUSSIA VODKA MUSEUM

The world's largest collection of Russian vodkas.  The Russian Vodka Museum is an integral part of the "Russian VodkaRoom No. 1" located within the restaurant. The exhibition reveals the details of origin and history of vodka from the 14th century to the present day. 

PLAY AT  ST PETERSBURG WELCOMES

Tailor-made tours.  St.Petersburg Welcomes Tours are focused on unique tailor-made tours. Their priority is comfort and travel preferences. A team of professional guides will make your journey memorable and exciting. 

Click on the links above for more details and to book directly from the featured twisht experiences at the lowest prices. Visit  EXPLORE  for 670+ experiences in 100+ countries or find your next awesome experience at  BLOG

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Summer Office Hours: 8:00 am - 2:00 pm Summer School Hours: 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

Principal: Dr. Cameshia Ware

Mission: Success for every student.

Headlines & Features

Ms. coughlin was a finalist for ese teacher of the year.

Our own Ms. Coughlin was a finalist for the Council for Exceptional Children Chapter 176 (Pinellas County) ESE Teacher of the Year! Congratulations to Ms. Coughlin for this honor.

Congratulations to our Falcon News Network Team

Our Falcon News Network crew won second place in the Pinellas County Schools Student Film Festival! 

Student Government is back at BPMS!

Excited to announce that student government at Bay Point is back! There are several positions available at all grade levels. Please share this with your students!  Applications are available in the grade level offices.

Congratulations to the Falcon Band!

Band students had their Music Performance Assessment recently.

Bay Point Middle is innovating science education to meet the needs of the next generation

Middle school science teachers took part in a collaborative STEM learning opportunity hosted by the Innovation Foundation.

Tardy Notifications

Please speak with your student about the importance of getting to each class on time. Late students miss important directions for their learning!

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College Scholarship Opportunity for 6-9 Grade Students

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K-12 Students are eligible to receive a free LTE hotspot device. Just ask your teacher, counselor or media specialist.

Book Bus Visit

The Book Bus was at Bay Point for Summer Bridge!  The Book Bus travels around Pinellas county to provide free books for students.

Tips for Parents: Talking to kids about School Safety

Former falcon and lhs 2022 salutatorian visit.

We recently hosted one of our former Falcons and Lakewood High School’s 2022 Salutatorian, Diamond, to talk to a group of girls about her school experience.

Bay Point Middle Points of Pride Video

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Tim Walz's military record: What to know about potential VP's National Guard service

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate on Tuesday, choosing a progressive yet plain-spoken VP candidate from America’s heartland to help her win over rural, white voters.

“I’m pleased to share that I’ve made my decision: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will join our campaign as my running mate,” Harris said via text to supporters. “Tim is a battle-tested leader who has an incredible track record of getting things done for Minnesota families. I know that he will bring that same principled leadership to our campaign, and to the office of the vice president.”

We look at Walz, a 60-year-old U.S. Army National Guard veteran, and his military career over the years.

More: Tim Walz is Kamala Harris' VP pick: Minnesota governor named running mate: Live updates

How long was Walz in the military?

Walz served in the military for 24 years, enlisting in the Nebraska National Guard at 17 in 1981 and then transferring to the Minnesota National Guard in 1996. He retired in 2005 to begin his successful run for the U.S. House, representing Minnesota as command sergeant major, among the highest ranks for enlisted soldiers. His battalion went on to deploy to Iraq shortly after Walz's retirement.

Walz specialized in heavy artillery and had proficiency ribbons in sharpshooting and hand grenades.

But during the 21 years that Walz spent working with large artillery pieces, he suffered hearing loss and tinnitus in both ears, Minnesota Public Radio reported. He was allowed to continue his service after undergoing surgery, which partially resolved his hearing loss.

Where did Walz serve, and what did he do in the National Guard?

During his service, Walz responded to natural disasters, including floods and tornadoes in Minnesota and Nebraska, and was deployed overseas for months at a time, according to MPR.

In 2003, he was sent to Italy, where he served with the European Security Force to support the war in Afghanistan. He was also stationed in Norway for joint training with other NATO militaries.

Walz told MPR that he reenlisted in the National Guard after the September 11 attacks but never saw active combat in his years in the military.

Stars and Stripes reported in 2020 that Walz credited his Army experience with helping him steer Minnesota through the COVID-19 pandemic as governor.

As governor of Minnesota, Walz is commander in chief of the 13,000-soldier Minnesota National Guard. “I’m certainly proud of my military service, but it’s one piece of me,” he told Minnesota Public Radio in 2018. “It doesn’t define me.”

Reuters and USA TODAY reporter Tom Vanden Brook contributed to this story.