Appropriate age:
Middle School

Description of technique:
Our jr. high held its first ever Retreat for new 7th graders, a few days into the new school year. Teachers, PTA members and other parent helpers went with the kids by bus to a nice community center/recreational area, and kept them busy with imaginative presentations, skits, and exercises that would teach them, in a fun way, what Jr. High is all about. Studying the Student Handbook is dull as dishwater; the skits were not dull. The games, interaction, songs, and cheers built the ol' School Spirit thang, and got the kids interacting with people they had never met before. 8th and 9th grade student government leaders were also in on the planning and implementation of the event, and very much responsible for helping to assure its success. They remember best how it feels to walk that Pathway, and be a lowly "Sevvie".

Instructions:
You know your school best. This is a combined effort of PTA, administration, teachers, student government, and the new students themselves. Talk with one another about how to best ease the transition from elementary to Jr. High. Critical subject matter, and methods of dealing with it. Plan the retreat, which has elements of Workshop, and elements of Pep Rally, (and a great BBQ lunch!). Recruit parent helpers, and watch shy kids break into smiles and adjust more quickly.

Other comments or suggestions:
After the event, collect feedback about what worked best, and what might be done a little differently next time around. Our school found this to be valuable enough that they plan to make the effort to provide a Retreat every September for their incoming seventh graders.