Camp 5 Fosters Connection and Belonging in 5th Grade

Fifth grade marks a fresh start for all students at University School of Milwaukee. Whether they are brand new to the school or longtime Wildcats, the move to Middle School is an important transition in their academic journey. Students meet new teachers, adjust to new routines, form new friendships, and take on new responsibilites—starting all at once.

To make this transition more inspiring and less daunting, the 5th grade team developed Camp 5, a two-day fun-filled orientation, that serves as an on-ramp to Middle School. It blends play, teamwork, and social connection with the practical know-how that students need to succeed in their new environment. Instead of getting lost in the new division, Camp 5 utilizes creativity and play so that students see 5th grade as an adventure worth exploring.

This year, 5th grade students and their parents were invited to an orientation on Friday, Aug. 28, prior to the first day of school, where they learned important information, walked the Middle School hallways, met advisors, set up lockers, and received Camp 5 T-shirts. 

On the first day of school and the first official day of Camp 5, students were placed into groups led by their 5th grade teachers. Groups were intentionally mixed beyond advising groups to spark new friendships and connections across the grade and build familiarity with all teachers. Each student also received a printed “survival guide” with useful tips, a map of the Middle School, their individualized schedule, and labels for organizing their supplies. 

Practical skills were also built into the experience. Students practiced opening locks for their lockers, organized and labeled their school supplies, and color-coded their new block schedules. They learned strategies for using their new assignment notebooks and discussed how to stay on top of homework and projects. A scavenger hunt done in pairs helped them create new connections while familiarizing them with areas of the school that they most likely hadn’t visited yet. 

“Watching our newest Middle Schoolers grow so exponentially in just the first two days of school has been nothing short of inspiring,” said Melissa Beihoff, 5th grade math teacher and 5th grade level coordinator. “It is always so much fun to see their confidence soar as our 5th graders navigate the first few days of Middle School. Their smiles and joy created an energized tone for the year ahead.” 

The camp closed with students enjoying the new FUNville playground, an advising circle connections activity, and a special keychain for each student.

Many thanks to the 5th grade team for their work on Camp 5: Cheryl Bair, Melissa Beihoff, Brenda Helm, Hannah Reimer, and Megan Van Sambeek.