Authored by Kathryn Henderson

Our Grade 5 students recently took part in an inspiring Step Up Afternoon followed by a Shadow Day, two carefully designed experiences that support a confident, smooth transition into Secondary School and offer a meaningful glimpse into life as a Grade 6 learner.

This year’s experience builds on the success of last year’s Step Up Day, which also helped students prepare for the move into Secondary School with confidence and excitement.

Building Confidence for the Transition to Grade 6

The journey began with the Step Up Afternoon, which focused on connection, confidence, and community. Students spent time getting to know current Grade 6 peers, helping to build early relationships and a strong sense of belonging within the Secondary environment. A lively and supportive Q&A session followed, where students asked thoughtful questions about academic expectations, friendships, routines, and daily life in Grade 6.

The afternoon concluded with a reflective “future self” activity, where students wrote messages to themselves about the year ahead. These reflections captured both excitement and curiosity, with many students expressing enthusiasm for upcoming subjects such as Science and French, some experiencing their very first French lesson, while also thoughtfully acknowledging the increased independence and responsibility that comes with Secondary School.

The following day, students participated in Shadow Day, stepping into Grade 6 classrooms to experience learning in action. In Science, they collaborated on a hands-on investigation separating a mixture of sand and salt, developing essential practical skills and scientific thinking. In English, students planned engaging news reports based on fictional or non-fictional events, while in Art they embraced creativity and communication through a collaborative drawing challenge that encouraged teamwork, focus, and imagination.

Across both days, students demonstrated enthusiasm, curiosity, and growing confidence. The combination of relationship-building, reflective thinking, and authentic classroom experience provided a powerful insight into Secondary School life, helping students see the transition not only as a next step, but as an exciting opportunity to look forward to.

These experiences continue to play an important role in preparing our students for a successful and confident transition into Grade 6, strengthening both skills and relationships as they move forward in their learning journey.