As summer slips away, many Pelham students are about to undertake transitions they began preparing for months ago.

Last May, Pelham’s second-graders took a field trip to see Valley Intermediate School, where they’ll soon begin third grade, and Pelham’s fifth graders visited Riverchase Middle School.

Pelham High School counselors visited both Helena and Riverchase Middle schools last spring to speak with students, and we hosted an eighth-grade parents’ night at PHS as schedule requests were being made. The work that began in spring has continued this summer.

Sixth graders have attended RMS summer registration, received their student ID cards and registered for a new tradition in our Pelham schools — Riverchase Academy. Riverchase Academy is a sixth-grade orientation event that began last year.

Riverchase Academy will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 11 at RMS from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. This event includes a sixth-grade parents’ meeting at 11:30 a.m.

RMS School Secretary Lisa Dettwiller said, “After our first Riverchase Academy last year, I saw a huge difference in the parents. Being more informed helped parents feel more confident and less stressed.”

RMS Principal Charles Smith said, “Riverchase Academy helped our sixth-graders’ confidence on that first day of school. We’re happy to be able to offer Riverchase Academy again this year to help our new sixth graders make smooth transitions.”

At PHS, freshman English teacher Rebecca Burnett heads up preparation for Pelham’s freshmen Camp Pelham. This year, Camp Pelham is Friday, Aug. 6 from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Students should arrive for check-in around 8 a.m.

Late registration for students who did not sign up for Camp Pelham on freshman registration night at PHS is from 8-8:30 on the morning of Camp Pelham.

An optional parent meeting will take place at 11 a.m. in the PHS auditorium.

This year’s Camp Pelham theme is “Reunited,” describing students who were once together at Riverchase Middle, split with the opening of Helena Middle, and now reunite as a student body at PHS.

“We have exciting Camp Pelham sessions this year. We want our freshmen to jump right in, run for SGA, join clubs and enjoy our early homecoming this year,” Burnett said.

At Camp Pelham 2010, we’ll be welcoming our newest freshmen, we’ll be looking for leaders and we’ll be inspiring confidence as we come together as Pelham Panthers.