“Until you have graduated from The Grosse Pointe Academy, you have no way of knowing what a unique experience the eighth grade year is,” says Scott Tily, Grades 4-8 Principal. “The year is chock full of experiences that our students remember for the rest of their lives. In fact, many of them come back and talk about their memories of the eighth grade play, or performing for senior citizens as part of the Bell Choir.”

In the past, the fall of the eighth grade year kicked off with a trip to Camp Storer, but Scott adjusted the schedule several years ago so that students now go to Camp Storer in Napoleon, Michigan during the spring of their seventh grade year.

“The purpose of the Storer trip is for the class to bond as a unit,” says Scott, “and we feel that the sooner this happens, the better.”

During the Storer trip in the spring, the students engage in trust-building exercises with one another and build confidence individually with such activities as the climbing wall and the high ropes, achieving success with the encouragement of their peers. Prior to the first day of school, classmates reunite after the long summer for a pizza party and the bonding experience continues.

Another favorite tradition is the first and eighth grade buddy program. Eighth grade advisor Marion Chrisner and first grade teachers Barbara Karle and Renee Martin spend a lot of time planning monthly activities so that the students get to know one another throughout the course of the year. The buddy program kicks off in September with the annual field trip to Miller’s Big Red Orchard & Cider Mill, where the first and eighth graders pick apples together, pet farm animals, and go on a hay ride. “The best part of the apple orchard trip or any of the buddy activities, as a matter of fact, is watching the eighth graders enjoy being little kids themselves,” says Marion Chrisner.

A trip to the Stratford Festival later in the fall is incorporated into the curriculum, as the students read and discuss the play (in the case of the 2007-08 school year, The Merchant of Venice) in class with language arts teacher Lawrence DeLuca before heading to Stratford, Ontario to see the play performed live. During the day, they enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and take in the sights.

Community service is another important part of the eighth grade year. In addition to the expectation to contribute to their communities independently, students are given the opportunity to perform service as a group, most notably when they perform at hospitals and for senior citizens as part of the Bell Choir.

In the spring, the students are treated to a trip to Cleveland that includes educational components, such as trips to museums and the symphony, and time for just plain fun, like hitting every roller coaster at Cedar Point. Shortly upon their return, it is time for final exams, which uniquely prepares them for the rigors of high school. Production of the eighth grade play begins at this point, and the day is broken up so that a morning exam is followed by a half day of play rehearsal. Once exams are complete, the students dedicate entire days to the play. This year, director Marion Chrisner chose “Little Shop of Horrors” to fully showcase this group’s vocal, choreographic and dramatic talents.

Another class activity is preparing for the Baccalaureate service the morning of graduation under the guidance of Christian Life teacher Ellen Krease. The students select and read scripture, recite personal reflections, and perform musically, giving the service a personal flair unique to that class. That evening, of course, is graduation, followed by a reception on the Lakeshore lawn where a receiving line forms for faculty and parents to congratulate the students on achieving this milestone in their lives.