8th Grade to 9th Grade Student Transition Information

This letter was mailed home to our 8th grade families in December:

​MAPLE AVENUE MIDDLE SCHOOL​ SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT 

(518) 587-4551  

Joshua Muldner 

7/8 Exc 

Dept Head 

Ext 12011 

Andrea Takacs 

7/8 Red 

Ext 12013 

Melissa Conyers 

7/8 Col 

Ext 12007 

Jodie Plante 

7/8 Hat 

Ext 12009 

Chris Wetzel 

6th Col/Hat 

Ext 12020 

Rebecca Schnorr 

6th Exc/Red 

Ext 12020 

 

December 28th, 2023 

 Dear Parents/Guardians of Current Eighth Grade Students:  

It is hard to believe that we are already talking about the High School for our 8th grade students. Middle School seems to have flown by! However, we wanted to make you aware of several important 8th – 9th grade transition dates and activities will be starting in the new year.  

January 16th at 6:00 pm - there will be an 8th – 9th Academic night offered to families at the High School.  This will be an important opportunity for students and families to learn more about the various programs and course offerings at the High School. More information will be coming out about this event soon.  

January 16th, 17th, and 18thMaple Avenue’s Counselors will be attending 8th  grade Social Studies classrooms and presenting on the potential class options available at the High School. We will also assist students in selecting an initial draft of their elective courses.    

  • Excelsior/Columbian students will do this on the 16th and half of the 17th of January 
  • Red/Hathorn students will do this on the second half of 17th and all of 18th of January 

January 26th – We will be mailing home a draft of your student’s course selections.  Please review the courses that your student selected and let us know if you would like us to make any changes.  

March 6th – the PTECH program through SUNY Adirondack will offer up a virtual open house to discuss their course offerings and provide information to interested 8th grade families. A link will be made available prior to this event. 

The Maple Avenue counselors will then work to meet with each 8th grader individually to make sure that we have them in the correct classes for next year and to discuss their future academic planning.  

We will then mail a final list of selected courses in late March for you and your student(s) to review.   

Per the High School’s course selection process, all student course selections will need to be finalized as of April 19th. After that date there can be no course changes.  

If you would like to discuss any aspect of your child’s course selections or the transition to the High School, the Maple Avenue counselors are available to conference with parents via zoom, by email or by phone. This can be scheduled by contacting your child’s school counselor at the extensions above (and below).   

Additional information regarding this transition may be found on our school’s website on the Maple Avenue School Counseling Department page. You may also find information on the High School’s School Counseling page and view their Academic Program Guide.  

We look forward to working with you and your 8th grade student(s) during this exciting transition to Saratoga Springs High School! 

Sincerely,  

The Maple Avenue School Counselors