“If we don’t work together we won’t accomplish what our goal is,” said Austin
Megan, 11, said, “You’ve always got to give it a try. It’s important to believe you can do it.”
Jenna, 10, said she loved learning about teamwork. “It’s awesome.”
Christopher, also 10, said he enjoyed the program. “We made new friends from Bungay,” he said of the program designed to introduce students who are from different schools but will all be merging for their sixth grade year.
Facilitator Suzanna Collinson was the lead trainer. 
Using Project Adventure methodology and programming has been a key component of transition programs for over 25 years. Bill Bates, former Director of PE, Health and Athletics at the Cambridge Public Schools in Cambridge MA and now a PA consultant created a highly successful transition program for students moving up from middle school to high school.
Students who participate in teambuilding activities at the end of their last year of elementary school or middle school with students from other feeder schools become more engaged, less nervous, feel a sense of belonging. To make the experience even more valuable, educators who the students will be working with at their new school should be equal participants.
What does your school or district do for a transition program? What works well? Do you believe it positively impacts student success?
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