Sometimes, it can be easy for high schoolers to forget that BSM isn’t just a senior high. The junior high is in a separate wing of the building, and most high school students have little interaction with their younger counterparts. However, there’s a chance that they might share classes.

There are 49 seventh and eighth graders who are currently enrolled in either a senior high language or math class. Izzy Ogunsanya is one of them. She is an eighth grader who takes French 2. She’s in French 2 because she’s had four years of experience with the language, before taking a two-year break. “I feel like I’m at an advantage due to those 4 years, because I’ve learned more than the basics. I also feel like I’m at a disadvantage because I think I’m learning things I would’ve known already if I didn’t take off two years,” Ogunsanya said in an email interview.

Being in a senior high class has changed the class dynamic for Ogunsanya. “In that class, it’s fine to usually shout out answers, but unless I’m 100% sure that my answer is correct, I won’t say anything. And with groups, I feel a bit left out. Everyone already has their friend groups and since I barely see them outside of class, I mostly do work on my own,” Ogunsanya said.

Eighth grader Audrey Broglio is also in a senior high class: Honors Geometry. She believes that being in an advanced class helps her develop a strong work ethic and allows her to challenge herself. But, like Ogunsanya, her engagement with the class changes because of the senior high students. “[The people in the class] are all very kind and accepting, but that doesn’t make them any less intimidating. When you are with people older than you, sometimes you feel like an outsider since all of them have other classes with each other and you’re just there for one,” Broglio said in an email interview.

From math teacher Bruce Becker’s perspective, junior high students tend to stick together in class when they’re given the opportunity to work in groups. However, he thinks this is partially due to nervousness on the older students’ part. “I think sometimes the senior high students are a little afraid of the junior high students just because the junior high students are really sharp…[if I put senior and junior high students in groups together] they find out that there’s nothing to be worried about,” Becker said.

As a math teacher, Becker has seen many junior high students go through senior high math classes. One of those classes is Honors Geometry, where he notices junior high students being among the most engaged. “Oftentimes, they work much harder than the senior high students…They’re the first ones to raise their hands in class,” Becker said.

Despite the occasional difficulties, the consensus is that senior high classes are a great way to improve your skills and take a more challenging course. “…The advanced track has been incredibly helpful to me and I will be continuing on it. It has been great, and I think it will help me excel in other areas of my life,” Broglio said.