High School-Middle School Club Collaboration Creates Authentic Connections

Jiwon is a KIS communications intern. This spring she talked with a few of her high school classmates about their experience leading middle school clubs and how these connections build confidence and readiness for high school club participation.

A collaborative program between middle and high school students has been recently ongoing. Clubs that are involved include debate, Global Issues Network (GIN), Model UN (MUN), and more. The program started when the officers of the high school clubs founded an outreach program dedicated to teaching middle school students and preparing them to continue with those clubs in high school. Some officers include Jiyoo with debate, Yoon with GIN, and Angela with MUN.

Middle school principal Molly Burger explains that the idea was first developed because she believes that connections across grade levels in this way are very beneficial. She also says that another primary cause of this development was high school students coming to ask her if they could get involved as club leaders or guests.

Jiyoo explains, “Throughout the school year, I've worked as an MS debate sponsor to spearhead an inclusive, encouraging program that bridges the gap between our middle and high school! I aim to continue the eleven-year legacy of KIS in KAIAC forensics and foster the next generation of motivated and excited debaters.” She explains that the debate program has seen 30 middle school students in one month, and currently they aim to familiarize students with forms of debate that may be new to them like Lincoln Douglas and Public Forum. 

Similarly, GIN began as a way to connect high school and middle school students and prepare them for if they want to join GIN in the future. Yoon says, “It is difficult to get younger students to be passionate about an issue we present because they feel that it is irrelevant to their lives. However, it is very necessary to be aware of different issues to become a model global citizen.” She explains that when she was in middle school, she wouldn’t have considered herself very informed on global issues. She says that reflecting on her own experiences as well as her peers’, she believed that it would be beneficial for younger students to know more about relevant issues before they enter high school. 

MUN also began as a way to help middle school students adjust when they enter the high school club because high school MUN officers noticed new members struggling at the beginning of the year. The current MUN team working on the collaboration consists of four carefully selected members. They conduct short lessons about formatting and skills and spend time practicing through various activities. 

Ms. Burger says that “real authentic connections with high school students are a benefit for everybody.” She talks about her hope that “high school students will build their skill [in leading] and not need a great deal of support as they get more and more experience.” She also expresses enthusiasm about middle school students having the opportunity to create real, close relationships with their high school counterparts and interact freely in the hallways, creating a warmer school community. Ms. Burger is excited that there are 12 potential high school-middle school collaborative clubs planned for next year. 

MUN club leader Angela says, “A memorable moment would be difficult to select, but the overall engagement and enthusiasm is truly unforgettable. Each student engages and demonstrates excellent potential. It has been rewarding to watch their growth and we look forward to more.”