Class of 2030 Steps into the Upper School for a Day

The Class of 2030 experienced what ninth grade at FWCD is really about on February 23 by participating in Eighth Grade Step-Up Day. They spent the day in the Bass Upper School, taking part in classes, connecting with faculty, and becoming more familiar with the people and opportunities that will shape their ninth grade year. This year’s event was a bit different from years past because it lasted the entire school day, rather than just the morning, and students were more active participants rather than observers. 

Students kicked off the step-up experience first thing in the morning, meeting Head of Upper School Abby Abbott and Assistant Head of Upper School Paula Weatherholt, who shared an overview of the day’s goals and also made space to hear some of their hopes and expectations around life in the Upper School. They gave students an overview of how the Upper School schedule works before they broke into groups to begin rotations.

Students participated in three rotations: a tour of the fine arts classrooms in the Sid W. Richardson Visual Arts Center; classes and activities in the Upper School and Upper School Science Building, ranging from biology traits to Pythagorean Theorem, and meetings with the Upper School Health and Wellness and Academic Support teams. In addition to these three rotations, students attend a panel discussion where they have the opportunity to pose questions to current Upper Schoolers Leo Hatem ’29, Charlotte Lamsens ’29, Mars McWaters ’29, Eliza Peacock ’26, and William Stadler ’28. They enjoyed a catered lunch and games in the Upper School Commons, with Link Crew leaders, which enhanced community time with their peers.

“I loved Step Up Day. It made me feel prepared, and I know what to expect for Upper School,” said eighth grader Eva Glover. “They did a great job explaining the classes and opportunities that exist. I especially enjoyed seeing students in their classes, participating in some ourselves, and meeting the Upper School students in Link Crew. The teachers were welcoming. Overall, I feel so prepared and excited for Upper School!”

The experience continued in the evening with parents and guardians gathering in the Upper School Commons before moving into small-group rotations with each Department Chair. These conversations offered families a window into the intellectual journey their children will experience in the Upper School. As Department Chairs shared highlights from their programs, families gained a sense of how each discipline encourages students to think critically, pursue their curiosity and engage deeply with a wide range of dynamic class offerings over the course of four years.  

“This year we changed the format of the Step-Up Day to shift from passive observation to active engagement, which makes sense on two levels,” said Abbott. “By being in the mix rather than on the sidelines, students gain a clearer picture of what the Upper School experience will be like because they have lived a mini version of it. Moreover, this is exactly the type of environment we want to create in the Upper School! One that builds on the strong habits and rich experiences students develop in Middle School while gradually increasing the level of intellectual challenge and ownership in a way that’s developmentally appropriate. In other words, we had a blast!”

Families will have another opportunity to help with the “on-boarding” experience in August with our new Parent and Guardian Orientation Night, where we will go over schedules, portal information, programming, advisory and other information that will help smooth the transition to Upper School and help everyone feel prepared to partner for a great ninth grade year.