feels the same way. "I think that (the middle school) system is fantastic,'' she said this week. "It's an absolutely positive thing.'' By all accounts the students feel the same way. Students, excited to learn, still sit attentively in class while teachers enthusiastically provide them with the skills necessary for future success. And when they leave the school grounds today in eager anticipation of the Christmas holiday, both the staff and students will take with them memories of the first official term of middle school. Mrs.

Graham pointed out that although the first term went along quite "smoothly'', there were a few minor problems with some students. "For the most part the students have been very well-behaved,'' she explained. "But I won't deny that we have had a few problems. In a group of 346 students, it's pretty impossible not to. "But those problems are confined to a tiny percentage of our population. I find the majority of the students to be polite, friendly, willing to work hard, enthusiastic and eager about the tasks that lie ahead.'' Mrs. Graham added that she had long anticipated the day when the middle school system would be introduced to the Island. "I have been looking forward to this since 1987,'' she said. "For ten years I have been convinced that middle schools were the way to go for Bermuda and after one term of operation I am even more convinced that this was definitely the right concept.'' The principal of Whitney Institute Middle School was not the only one who expressed enthusiasm and excitement toward the new system. Deputy principal Gareth Davis, physical education teacher Dwight Jackson and mathematics teacher Albert Steede shared similar views. "It is great to see smiling faces when you come into school every morning,'' Mr. Davis said. "It is refreshing because at this age the children show their emotions much more openly than the older ones. "Middle schools are also a great opportunity to form the students' attitudes so when they move up to CedarBridge Academy they know how to make the right decisions. "There is great potential for education in Bermuda and middle schools were definitely the right move.'' Mr. Jackson added: "The school is absolutely wonderful and everyone is having a great time. "The major thing for me is that I've been placed in a position to shape and mould young minds and that's my inspiration everyday.'' Mr. Jackson also said he understood that children get bored of listening to lectures and he therefore did his best to make his lessons fun. "The students in middle school are at a very impressionable age,'' he explained. "This is the time when they either go the right way or the wrong way. "Kids this age (11-14) get tired of teachers talking at the front of the classroom all the time. It's been fun teaching them in different styles. "Someone once told me that when you teach you must make it as fun as possible. I am using that advice everyday.'' And Mr. Steede, who admitted that at times the school can be hectic, explained: "I feel that over a period of time the middle school system will be excellent. It is a great concept because the children have more `play time'. "They are still learning a lot, of course, but now they are having more fun doing it. "With advisory in the morning and activities in the afternoon, actual school time has been cut by about one hour each day. "For the children this obviously means less work and more fun, but they are actually learning when they don't even think they are which is great.'' Staff and students at Whitney Institute Middle School are expected to continue the academic year, when it resumes on January 5, just as enthusiastically as they started.

Whitney students on middle schools we are not always with the same teacher. I think it is more interesting to have more subjects because in primary school we never did any fun things, like design and technology, and we never knew any Spanish.

"I think it will be interesting when we will be able to see microscopic things under the microscope in science class soon.

"All of the teachers are very understanding and always listen to what we have to say and sometimes they like to have a joke.

"My hope for next term is to get good grades and in the future I hope to be an architect, a designer or a veterinarian.'' Attiya Talbot, age 11: "I like changing teachers and classes because some teachers are more fun and staying in the same classroom can get boring.

"I like cooking and design and technology because we didn't have those in primary school and it is nice to have a change.

"I find the teachers are very serious about you getting your work done and most of them want you to enjoy what you are doing.

"The school is big enough for the whole student body, but improvement can be made by a paint job and the field gets too muddy when it rains. They need to make a walkway from one building to another so we won't get wet when it rains.

"My favourite memory was the M1 picnic to Clearwater Beach because we had fun swimming, playing water balloon volleyball and going roller blading.

"Next term I would like to keep my grades up high and look for success for the rest of my years at Whitney Institute Middle School.'' Shantel DeShield, age 12: "I like rotating classes because we get to know the teachers better and find out how they teach.

"I especially enjoy family studies where we get to cook and it makes school a lot of fun. Also, I never got to do dance and business studies before.

"The teachers are nice and they get their point across. All of the students get along, but there are people you won't get along with in life. So sometimes we have fights.

"My hopes are to go into M3 and be successful in life.'' Mandela Fubler, age 12: "Last year we stayed in one class and we were not able to be in other teachers' classes. But, this year we move around and I like that.

"I think we have better subjects this year. We have science and dance and we also study other languages.

"Some teachers are real fun to be in their class. They let us play games and they make the work we do more fun.

"Since all the students come from different schools there is a little bit of conflict. But, I have a lot of friends and we get along good.

"My favourite memory this term was when we got to order lunch in our advisory groups. I had a delicious bacon cheeseburger and french fries. I loved that day.'' Anique Swanston, age 12: "I like going to dance, art, music, drama, family studies and design and technology because you get a taste of different things that you never did before. It also helps because you can decide what you want to be when you grow up.

"Sometimes if you're really enjoying what you're doing in class you would like it to be longer, like lunch and art. But, if you don't like it you may want it to be shorter like science.

"Most of the teachers are kind. Some make you want to leave, but most make you want to learn.

"Nearly all of the students are kind too. They joke about things. There are a few fights, but mostly there is peace.

"The school is very big. I like the new white boards, tables and computers the best.

"My favourite thing this term was when the M2s went to the movies and then on a ferry ride.

"In the future I hope that most of the students in CedarBridge Academy are gone when I get there.'' Alicia Easton, age 13: "The encore classes I feel make the new middle school curriculum more fun. But, you, as an individual, have to make it fun for yourself.

"I feel the teachers in our school are giving us better learning abilities because they take time out to help with what problems we may have whether with school work or anything else.

"I get along pretty much with all my peers. Sometimes they even ask me for advice.

"My best memory was the M3 cruise around Hamilton Harbour and the M3 quiz.

"In the future I want to be successful in life and I am looking forward to going to the new facility, CedarBridge Academy, because of its advantages in academics.'' David Bean, age 13: "The teachers are OK. You may get a real tough teacher.

But at the end of the day, they will say, `Well done'.

"My favourite things this term were the M3 quiz, gym classes and the Word of Life show.

"In the future I hope to be successfull at CedarBridge Academy because they have a good facility to learn in.'' Stephen Smith, age 14: "I think changing classes is much better than staying in one class because we have a lot of subjects and one teacher just can't teach you everything. It also gives us the chance to meet new teachers.

"The teachers are great and learning is great because they make it fun. They also make sure we learn and don't fool around too much.

"I get along with all of the students because I knew them all last year. They are fun to hang around and we don't get into too many fights.

"In the future I would like to become a lawyer and I am looking forward to going to CedarBridge Academy because it has a good facility and learning is good.''