It’s tough to be a new student, especially when entering middle school. Middle schoolers are at that awkward age – trying to straddle the physical challenges between their waning childhood and emerging teenage years. In addition, new students face the unknown. How difficult will their classes be? Will they be able to acclimate to the school culture? Will they be accepted by their peers?

“My biggest fear is making friends because people may not accept me,” said new eighth grader Zach German, who attended Rosarian Academy last year.

For others, the academic demands are the most worrisome.

“My biggest fear is not getting good grades,” said new seventh grader Alexander Fleming Lake.

For new eighth grader Jackson Worcester, it’s “not getting used to the amount of homework we’ll have.”

While some students students fear the homework load and fitting in, others see making friends as a new opportunity. “ I am most excited to meet new people and make new friends,” said fellow new eighth grader Ellie Froggatt. Similarly, new sixth grader Zachary Neidoff is “most excited to work harder because this school will be more challenging.” He also said, “I hope that I make lots of friends and that the sports program is good.”

In all, there are 34 new students in the Middle School this year, and there are some new teachers, too. Mr. Matthew Oster was hired to take the place of Mr. Ed Chaplin, a middle school fixture who retired after 19 years at TBS. “He is an excellent math teacher, but also an excellent science teacher,” said Head of Middle School Mr. Charles Hagy about Oster. “He has a big STEM background and that is where we are headed with our math and science department.” Mr. Oster teaches sixth, seventh, and eighth graders this year, and previously worked at Stockton University in for 12 years and Ocean City High School for 17 years. Both institutions were in New Jersey, from which Mr. Oster hails. Oh, and he’s also the husband of seventh-grade science teacher Mrs. Stephanie Oster.

“I want to make a difference in the school community by improving the curriculum and by adding onto our new STEM building,” Mr. Oster said. “I am excited about opening up the STEM building and creating something that is very adventurous and innovating.”

Another addition to the math department is Mrs. Gina Thompson, who takes over for Mr. DiGiovanni teaching sixth and seventh-grade math. A native Floridian who attended Suncoast High School, Thompson looks forward to helping her students understand and appreciate algebra, which is primarily what she teaches to the seventh and eighth graders. “ I hope that I have a positive impact on them and that I help them excel in math,” she said.

“She brings expertise in teaching math at all levels,” said Hagy “She has a lot of experience in teaching math in ways that connect the kids to the math concepts.” Thompson taught math at Duncan for the past six years, and said she is “excited to get to know the kids.”

Stepping in for Mrs. Denise Ponchock who took the year off to write and help raise her children is TBS veteran Mrs. Susan Kirkman. No stranger to the

Middle School, Kirkman taught in the division for eight years, the last being 2010-11. “ I am very excited to be back at The Benjamin School this year to teach the sixth graders,” said Kirkman. “I love teaching sixth graders, and it going to be wonderful. My biggest hope is that I wake up every morning to get here,” she joked.

Finally, Ms. Kimberly Latimer joined the World Language Department to teach Chinese. Latimer, an American, first learned Chinese on a school field trip to China and has been hooked ever since. A teacher for 13 years, she taught previously in China and in multiple independent schools in the U.S. I am most excited by the fact we are believers here. When we talk about kindness in assemblies here we really believe it. And I feel like the adults are

very sincere about it and, the adults are not just teaching it because you are kids and they have to.” She also said “ My biggest hope is that all my students will go to China and meet Chinese people and become friends with them. And when the Chinese talk to them, they go, ‘Wow your Chinese is awesome!’”

“She is a exceptional Chinese teacher and will help the Chinese program grow,” said Hagy.

Hopefully the new students and new teachers will not only feel welcomed here at The Benjamin School, but will soon feel comfortable enough to call it, as Mr. Hagy says, their “home away from home.”