MATTAPOISETT — As the 2025-26 school year approaches, educators at Old Rochester Regional Junior High School are gearing up to help kids transition from elementary school to junior high.

“I think parents and kids are in good hands at the junior high school, so we’re looking forward to a great year for the seventh graders, a great two years coming up,” said junior high Principal Silas Coellner.

According to Coellner, the first six weeks of the school year are “super important” for establishing classroom and school-wide expectations, as well as building relationships between students and staff.

“One of the most important things that we do … is making sure the kids feel like they belong there and they are cared for, they’re important, and that we’re there for them to support them in their learning,” Coellner said.

He called the relationship between students and educators the foundation for a good environment for learning, and building these relationships is a “really strong focus” for the first six weeks of school.

The first six weeks are particularly important for the seventh graders who, on top of starting a new school year, must also manage the transition from elementary school and learning what the expectations are in junior high.

“It’s a lot of transition, a lot of settling in, a lot of making sure that expectations are clear and supporting the kids through that,” Coellner said.

After the first six weeks everything starts to kick in, he said, with the school year becoming a “pretty smooth running operation.”

The junior high will be starting a Parent Teacher Student Organization this year, with some alums coming from the elementary schools to introduce the new program.

“It’s kind of a way for students, staff and parents to all work together to make the school a better place,” Coellner said.

One program the organization may help with is the school’s annual Booster Bash fundraising event, which the junior high will self-host for the first time this year.

Previously hosted by the school fundraising company Booster, which also hosts the fun runs at the elementary schools, Coellner and other educators wanted to find a way to rely less on the company.

“Rather than having one of their staff members come in and facilitate it and run the assemblies and the games, we’re going to take that on ourselves,” Coellner said, calling the change a “new adventure.”

This will also be the first time many kids meet each other, with three towns coming together for the first time academically, which he said is a “great opportunity” for students.

“It’s a great opportunity to make new friends. It’s a great opportunity to have a reboot if needed. It’s a great opportunity to find new things,” Coellner said.