Moving On Up: BISD Offers Guidance to Parents of Students Shifting to Middle School

The move from elementary to middle school is a big one, but Beaumont ISD’s Guidance and Counseling Department offered an introductory path at its “Building Relationships Through Healthy Transitions” parent seminar. The November 14, 2023 event was the first of its kind for the District and attracted 150 parents and students to the boardroom.

Misty Watson was one of the participants. Her son is a Roy Guess Elementary School fifth grader. She is considering enrolling her child at Marshall Middle School next year. “It’s [Marshall] closer,” Watson said, “and I’ve been hearing great things about it.”

Parents had the opportunity to hear about Marshall Middle School’s STEM Academy from Dr. Murrell Stewart, school principal, as well as the Pegasus Program at Odom Academy, as explained by principal Sylvia Jenkins. In addition, parents received strategies for promoting healthy behavior and students could complete their course selections.

Lydia Sylvester, Director of Guidance and Counseling, says this year’s event was a collaborative effort. “In the past, we’ve had separate campus nights,” she explained. “I hope that parents leave with all of the course offerings available at middle school, also some key points to integrate at home on behavior strategies to use with their students.”

Information shared at the meeting can be found on the BISD website at https://www.bmtisd.com/Page/7628 and a portion of the meeting can be viewed on the BISD Facebook page at https://fb.watch/omeWNZLO3t/.