Advice for Incoming Sixies by Elizabeth Moguel

Be Kind to Yourself!

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Everyone makes mistakes. It's how we learn. Be ok with messing up occasionally and don't beat yourself up about it!

Ask for help when you need it.

establish good relationships with your classmates and teachers, they will help you later on!

kshao7 — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Talk to ppl not many people actually know ppl already

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Use Your Agenda!!

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Use your agenda, otherwise you will get very disorganized and stressed!!

Get your homework done!!!

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Use Your Locker

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emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

The workload is kind of large, but the work itself is not that hard, so budget your time. Also, join extracurricular stuff, or you'll probably be bored.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Make a schedule that you can work with because it’s easy to get distracted. Try to not procrastinate because it will make your school year stressful. On the first day of school, you might get lost (I did) so you should ask or remember where each stairs lead.

Find a organized system like your agena

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You can use it to keep track of homework, quizzes, test, binder check, and other important dates.

ps. Use your agenda that's why it's there for you

DONT PROCRASTINATE PLEASE

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Procrastination will only make you more reluctant to do your work. Just get it done!!!

sign up for all the clubs u want

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emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

On your first few days you should always ask if you need help getting to class.

Do your homework early and try to make friends.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Do not do dec last minute ppl will remember for at least until the end of the term

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emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Don't overthink things because it is not as hard as people make it seem and do your homework cause it will help you

Study for tests/quizzes

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Don't worry for finals

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Don't worry about finals, but try your best and study.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Don’t wait until the last minute to finish your homework and/or projects. Don’t depend on your studies to finish your homework because once you go into eighth grade you don’t have nearly as many studies. Prepare yourself for this early and work on self-discipline. Also, there are going to be older students in your studies (I got pretty confused on the first day).

FINALS AREN'T EVEN THAT BAD

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Try Not To Miss School

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You will feel overwhelmed, and it will feel very hard for you to catch up.

READ THIS!!

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Alright these are my advice

Don't Use your Phone much

Study for test it really helps

Don't leave memorizing Declamation for the day before you declaim

Make friends who are in different lunchs and cluster so you wont be alone :)

The school will seem hard at first but it gets easier but this doesn't mean you shouldn't pay attention and Study.

STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY

Study for Latin a lot more than the other classes.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Don't stress out too much about academics and grades because when you burn yourself out like that, you end up not being able to focus well or learn much anyway, so it's just a lose-lose situation. Also, DON'T PROCRASTINATE AND STAY ORGANIZED!!!!! Seriously, don't just think this, DO IT!!!!!

Memorize your schedule.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Find good friends :)

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Try not to be late to class, be kind (especially to teachers), and, most importantly, study!! Also, if you're trying to make it to class on time from lunch, I suggest using the stairs in the back of the school; it's less crowded.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Try and stay positive. I sometimes was not looking on the better side, but thinking about the good aspects helps :) Also, using your locker is super helpful. At the beginning of the year my bag was so heavy because I didn’t use my locker, but overtime I started using it.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Focusing on time management and organization was very helpful this year.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Don't procrastinate on homework, projects, or studying for tests. Also, definitely make use of your study halls by reviewing for an upcoming test or doing homework from earlier classes.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Don't be shy on the first day! Everyone wants to make friends when you get there and you won't win anything by sitting in the corner and not talking to anyone, so just do it. If you're really nervous, a good thing to do is just to smile and say hi to people because that'll make them want to say hi to you, too. It's also a way better strategy than, say, reading a book or wearing headphones and just seeming super closed off.

PRIORITIZE YOUR TIME!

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Deadlines change super fast, so it's better to get the important stuff done while you have time!

Stay organized and manage your time well.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

It was helpful to figure out that teachers are really helpful, studies have multiple grades in the same room, there's 2-4 hours of work (depending on how fast you work) each day, and that each floor is set up the same way, except the bathrooms are switched.

Make time to study. Just paying attention in class without going over your material outside of it isn't going to cut it.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

I found out that using an agenda book was very helpful, since it lets me plan out what I have to do.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Try and keep yourself organized; use your locker; do all your h.w.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

It is so (so!) important to get a good start on all your classes. Study really hard for the first few tests and quizzes even if you need to go the extra mile. It is also important to come in with a good mindset towards all your classes. In my opinion, the students who get the best grades at BLS don't necessarily need to be the smartest. They simply just need to have the best habits.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Everything is really overwhelming at the beginning but by Christmas things start to feel normal and it's all down hill from there.

If you want to keep going, keep going.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

There will be a lot of obstacles and crazy things happening, but whatever you end up doing, make sure that YOU made the decision.

Don't be stressed out, it'll be ok.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

At first, you should travel with your friends because otherwise you'll get lost all of the time.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Don't get distracted in Latin class! When you miss one class, you miss a lot.

Use your locker!

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

It is not fun carrying around all of your things at once. Instead, use it from the beginning, it will help a lot.

Make friends at lunch!

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Try and make at least one friend in your R5 class or the R5 class that shares the same lunch, no matter what cluster they're in because eating alone isn't fun.

Study!

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

You may want to skip studying because it is boring and you want to do anything else, but it's very helpful and not a waste of time!

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Don't procrastinate with homework or projects and make sure to make lots of friends with the right people!

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

The school system is not as complex as you may think. I cannot stress that enough. Just pay attention and ask if you need help.

Do your homework and do not procrastinate.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Take the time you need to figure out what makes you productive. You're not going to find your place in the first couple months, even if it seems like everyone has already. You have years to find your way, this isn’t your only chance (do try though because it makes things much easier).

Take advantage of extracurriculars!

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

There are many clubs to join, and I recommend taking advantage of all of the great clubs and educational resources the school offers. (Saturday Success School, Peer Mentoring, Writing Center, etc.)

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Writing your schedule on the back of your hand is the best tip I have. (Even if it seems ridiculous) You will never have to walk around with a schedule or agenda book in your hand. It also makes it so you don't get confused during the first few weeks.

You got this!

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

My advice for incoming Sixies is to not worry! It might seem hard at the beginning, but if you use your time wisely then it will all be fine.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Advice that I found very helpful for my Sixie year that I would give to incoming Sixies is, when doing homework, to not procrastinate! I found it extremely helpful knowing that if I did my homework as soon as I got home, it felt as if I had a lot more time for other activities later on.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

The advice I would give to any incoming Sixies is that they must consider that they really need to study this year. The tests in 7th grade will be more challenging than those from 6th grade, and just because someone was top of their class last year doesn't mean they can skip studying this year. Also, work very hard in Latin this year because next year and the years after, your grades and ability to learn will be based on the foundations of Latin that you learned this school year.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Do your homework and pay attention in class. It's helpful.

Get a good night's rest.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Study your Latin vocabulary!

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

There is a lot so it is super helpful to memorize them.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Try to set aside time to focus and study, and to not stress too much because even if it seems hard, it gets better.

Sometimes it is not necessary to be perfect. Just do your best and don't sweat it!

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

That you should not procrastinate, and also don't use your phone in class...

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

I liked the locker organizers, that kept me clean and less stressed. Come up with a system for the agenda, that was extremely helpful.

Always turn in work anything is better than a zero!!! Also if you are struggling ask someone for help. Do not be shy. Everyone is really nice!!!

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Dot NOT procrastinate and always ask for help if you need it.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Try to do your homework early, but also prioritize your time to do other healthy activities.

Ask your teachers questions

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

especially about things your confused about or interested in. A great way to build connections with them and, obviously get better grades (joke).

Don't be afraid to get involved in things Sixie year

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Imagine you'll only get one year at BLS. Even if you're one of the only sixies at a club meeting or sport tryout, just take a risk and do it. Obviously it will be uncomfortable at first - BLS is a pretty tight knit place, but if you stay around and just be yourself, then you'll soon feel more comfortable and glad you reached out early on.

Even when it gets hard, keep your head up.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

In the end of Sixie year, it's amazing to look back on what it was like when you first arrived.

USE YOUR LOCKER

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Using one's locker allows you to be more organized, and makes transitions between classes easier. Then again, if we are not in school this fall, it probably won't matter.

Try and be social/get to know people from other schools/elementary school experiences.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

For me, I was kind of forced to, since none of my old friends were in the same cluster as me and I didn't have the same lunch as them, but I actually am glad that happened. You'll get to do a lot of new things, go new places, and also just branch out into the world. Basically everyone at BLS is actually nice, so don't worry about "saying something wrong" (unless it's actually offensive) or "making a wrong first impression". Everyone is worrying about that.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Keep up with Latin vocab and don't stress so much over small assignments

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

BLS is not as hard (yet) and Sixie year is for learning the ropes. It's fine to feel nervous or unprepared, your teachers are NOT robots they want to help.

Find your studies

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Some are all over the place, find them so you're not late.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

If you get lost ask someone or go to a place in the school where you know your way around better and go from there. You will get the hang of it eventually. There is no pool on the fifth floor.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

If you are stressed under work then talk to your guidance consular or another trusted adult, clear your head, get organized, eliminate distractions, and start powering through your work with a positive attitude. Don't waste time starting your work, get it done in your free time, on the bus (or T) between school and sports and clubs.

BLS has a big library in the ground floor, use it.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

The librarians are helpful when you need to find an independent reading book or when you need computer help. You will make better friends if you work (quietly) with them in the library. Follow the rules of the library and you won't get kicked out.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Your life will be so much better if you keep a cool head. Stress is natural, it's telling you to do something or else something bad will happen. So do what you haven't done.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Use the bathroom in the middle of the lunch period so that the bell doesn't ring while you are in there.

Being a Kool Kid and Morality

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

ALWAYS be kind and respectful to everyone around you, it helps to have nice helpful people on your side. If you start BLS with or without friends then it is important to reach out when working in groups. If you encounter a mean kid being mean stand up for the victim, don't wait for someone else to.
Don't cheat. Or lie. The teachers have some pretty cool superpowers that will let them know when you aren't being honest. You won't learn if you cheat and the rest of your six years at BLS will be torture.

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Clubs and sports are important. You can make friends in them and being in them will give you a chance to get a better feel for the school. Many people I know say that they want to take it easy in Sixie year and they'll join something later but it is best to start when you are a pixie. One, being a Sixie gives you an excuse for being clueless about the way things work. Two, you will meet older kids who are wiser in the ways of BLS. Three, doing extra stuff makes you more appealing to colleges. Four, it'll make you cooler or more interesting.
(I think sports are better than clubs because you'll stay in shape and be on a good schedule.)

Music

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

It is fun, you should do it. There are many choruses. If you pick up an instrument sixie year then as you get older and better you can move up to better bands or orchestras. If you choose a jazz instrument then when you get super goose you could join the Dues then Big Band. 😎

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Try to make a schedule balancing work & school time with time to chat with friends, exercise, and spend with family.

PAY ATTENTION IN CLASS

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Don't ignore notifications from Google Classroom. Most of the time, it's a teacher posting something important about the homework!

AGENDA!!!!

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Just use it. Write down all of your homework so you don't miss any important assignments or tests that you need to study for.

Clubs & Sports

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Don't pick too many clubs. It will overload your schedule and you will not have free time during your day. Trust me, you will want some of that. The workload will get to be too much and you will fall behind in class. There is always next year. But you should join JCL :) :)

Teachers

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Be nice to your teachers! Make good impressions, you want your teachers to like you because you have to spend a year with them. Teachers may seem mean or strict but they are not if you don't give them a reason to be.

Life

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BLS is going to be hard but since we are all starting this together we can finish it together.... btw Im super nervous but😩 i will live cya tmmr 🙈

From a Senior

2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

IT GETS BETTER! JOIN CERTAMEN!!!

From a Senior

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

PLEASE. just give Latin/JCL a chance. You will enjoy the change that comes out of it.

From a Senior

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Join JCL! And really try to immerse yourself in Latin even if you aren't "good at it".

From a Senior

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

My advice is to have an open mind about Latin and try out JCL. I think what’s great about both the Classics and JCL is that there is so much to do and learn that it’s difficult to not find at least something of interest to you. I encourage people to explore the Classics outside of just the Latin and Greek languages and read about culture, history, etc. because there is so much to learn from those subjects.

From a Senior

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

It helps so much to start off strong and to really build up that foundational knowledge. As with all classes, as long as you pay attention and do your work, you’ll naturally do well and Latin is no exception. As someone who is really interested in the humanities, Latin has so much to offer in that department, whether that be the myths, the culture, the politics, and of course other Latin nerds who are interested in the same things that you are. It’s also okay to not be a Latin person; just try for a couple years and see where you end up!

From a Senior

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Try everything!

From a Senior

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Get involved in JCL earlier even if you have just a mild interest in Latin. You don’t have to follow the crowd just because most people don’t like Latin, and it’s a lot more than just grammar. From scansion to prose to visual art, there is something for everyone in the study of Latin. Definitely take AP if you enjoyed and did well in Prose (the AP exam is much easier than most!) and no matter what your current opinion of Latin is take Latin poetry!!

From a Senior

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Keep trying Latin even if you feel challenged at first because once you get the endings and basic ideas down it gets a lot more fun and easy.

From a Senior

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Don’t knock Latin until you try it. Seriously :)

From a Senior

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Don't be intimated by the really good Latin kids. You know the ones who buzz two seconds into the question or never fail to get the translation wrong. Don't be scared. Take a deep breath, reread the words, check your cases, and raise your hand. If you get it wrong, that's ok. Because just because you got it wrong now, doesn't mean you have to get it wrong again. What will limit you though is yourself, and your desire to get better. And I know that I may be perceived as a "nerd" for saying this but once you let yourself enjoy Latin and think of it more than just a "dead language", you're going to understand a lot more. So yes. Breath, look again, and keep trying until you get it right. And then have some fun.

From a Senior

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Be sure to have a solid vocabulary foundation. Do your best to not study vocab just for a quiz, but make sure to really LEARN the vocab because you will be referencing the same words for 4 years. An understanding of grammar isn't very useful if you don't know the definitions of the words you are supposed to be translating.

From a Senior

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Stay with Latin for six years— it sounds like a big commitment but you form such an amazing group of friends and great teachers!

VIRTUAL ADVICE

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Keep your camera on if you can. It's fun to see everyone!

VIRTUAL ADVICE

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Online classes fly by, so cut to the chase and ask questions if you need to!

VIRTUAL ADVICE

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

I would suggest staying up-to-date and organized with school work. I know from personal experience that when you're not physically in the situation where there are expectations to be met, it's very easy to get behind on work. We are now in charge of the condition of our work more than ever, but we can't take the easy way out and do a minimal amount of work just because we believe no one will figure it out. The assessments given to us by our teachers will still show if we have been learning and doing our classwork.

Just because it's virtual school doesn't mean it doesn't matter!

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

VIRTUAL ADVICE

2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Turn on your camera during online class! If everyone does you can see your fellow classmates and it lets you be more engaged in the class. Teachers like it more if they can see your face, so make a good impression! If you don't think you are looking good at the moment, try getting up before your call so you have some time to get ready.

From a Senior

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Don't be scared of things you haven't tried before! Take Attic Greek with a whole new alphabet, attend a seminar on Sappho at classics day, go to states even though you don't know anyone there (you'll meet some great new people!)

VIRTUAL ADVICE

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Don't just attend class and do the required things. Do more if you need to understand a topic because learning at home is hard.

VIRTUAL ADVICE

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Go to class before class starts, which is like 5-3 min before the scheduled time. (Because at school, you wouldn't run into class at the last min before class starts)

Participate in class, even if it’s just typing in the chat box

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

VIRTUAL ADVICE

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

1. ALWAYS attend if you can. There is always important information said during virtual class and you don’t want to miss it!
2.Turn off your mic if you are not speaking!
3. Be active in the conversation. Whether you are orally speaking or typing in the chat box speak at some point in time. If you don’t, your teacher might think that you logged into class and then left to do your own thing.
4. Always have the proper materials with you for class time.
5. Don’t interrupt when others are speaking. Act as if you were in real school.

VIRTUAL ADVICE

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Turn off all extra devices during calls because you can get distracted and not focus.

VIRTUAL ADVICE

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Try to stay in touch with friends so they can update you if forgot something.

VIRTUAL ADVICE

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Take breaks. Budget time. Defenestrate distractions. Try not to zone out.

VIRTUAL ADVICE

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Make sure you have a space in your home to get your work done

VIRTUAL ADVICE

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Do your own online work! If you don't understand material it will make the in class portion of the year very difficult.

VIRTUAL ADVICE

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Make sure to submit everything on time, and to actively communicate with your teachers about any difficulties you are having/obstacles you face with virtual learning because staying quiet about it wont help.

VIRTUAL ADVICE

emoguel — 2025-09-09 13:25:54 UTC

Don't slack off just because your not in the classroom. It is important information!

Use the time you have now!

jcollins17_17 — 2025-09-16 13:25:07 UTC

You may never again get the same amount of free time you have in sixie year! Use it to try things you like and things you don't like, so you can lock in the things you really want to do in the future!

Join Crew

jcollins17_17 — 2025-09-16 13:25:46 UTC

Join BLS Crew! It's a great place full of great people!