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BELOIT -- West Branch Local School District is moving the fifth grade back to an elementary schedule starting in the fall.
The district announced the decision Wednesday, noting the students will remain at the middle school building but operate on the same schedule as the third and fourth grades, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 3:30 p.m. The schedule for West Branch Middle School students in grades six and seven will remain the same.
"We made this change because we know that fifth grade is a transitional year," Superintendent Micki Egli said. "Our 10-year-olds are still children. This change allows us to provide a safe environment for these students to test out independent skills before transitioning from childhood to adolescence."
According to a written statement, Egli said the decision to move fifth grade back to an elementary schedule was made because of the transitional nature of this age. While fifth graders are still children, they are reaching an age where it is important for them to begin exploring their own independence.
Many 10-year-olds already begin to think of themselves as teenagers. While students may appear to be more mature and learning can accelerate significantly during the fifth-grade year, it is important to remember that they are still children.
"We recognize that fifth-grade students benefit greatly from elementary school characteristics and structures," Egli said. "Elements such as recess and class parties are instrumental in helping students develop and learn throughout this transitional period."