“My advice to the sixth graders is to stay focused and be a leader”

-Jerika Rodriguez, 7th Grader at Marfa ISD

It’s a new year at Marfa ISD, which means that last year’s MISD students have either graduated or passed onto the next grade. This also means that there is a new sixth grade class, with different students, and they’re new to the Marfa Jr High/High School building. I decided to ask a few of them some questions to see how they liked it so far.

I began this interview by asking Ms. Foster a few questions. The first question was, “How many years have you been teaching?”

She looked away from her computer and straight at me, “I’m starting my twelfth year.”

“Do you still enjoy teaching as much as you did when you first started?” I asked.

“Yes,” she replied.

“Why?” She sat back in her chair. “When I started, not a lot of my administrators believed in me, and that caused a lot of self-doubt. But the last,” she paused and thought, “seven years, I would say that my principals, my colleagues, and my students have shown me differently.”

“Do you think the four day week is a good or bad idea?”

“It’s a good idea, in that it makes everyone pick up the pace. It's just gonna take some getting used to.” As she spoke, I couldn’t help but to nod in agreement.

“Do you enjoy having the new sixth grade students?” I asked and she nodded.

“Yes, but they still have a lot to learn! We’re all guiding them, and one day it’ll click,” she said as she went back to being on her computer.

“Can you explain what you mean by ‘click’?”

“They’re still getting used to the schedule and expectations. Right now it’s just daily reminders, but soon it’ll click and we won’t have to remind them as much. It’ll just happen.”

“Do you think they will be better or worse than your last sixth grade class and why?” She thought to herself for a while before she spoke. “They seem more open to new ideas. More willing to share thoughts and to answer questions. So already that is a big step.”

“Do you think you’d still like to be a teacher even after this year?” I asked.

“Yes, but I think it would be interesting to be an instructional coach.”

“What does an instructional coach do?”

“I would basically go to other meetings including the English ones and write down ideas for Science or Math and share them with other teachers.”
Next, I asked a boy from sixth grade, Ty Bejaran, some questions. I asked him a total of six questions and he was reluctant to answer: only two responses longer than a “yes” or “no.”

The first question I asked was, “What is your favorite thing about school?” I asked and he shrugged his shoulders. “A lot of stuff.”

“Like?” I asked, trying to get more out of him.

“P.E,” he pauses, “that we don’t have to line up.”

I hadn’t really thought about that. But I remembered that back in Elementary school, the students have to line up everywhere. To go to the cafeteria, to the playground, everywhere. Even on field trips!

“What is your least favorite thing about school?” I asked and he immediately answered. “That there’s four classes.”

“Do you miss the elementary school building?” I asked and she shrugged.

“Kinda,” he blankly responded.

“What do you miss about it?”

“I don’t know.” I asked if he missed the playground at the elementary school and he just said no.

Then I asked if he had a favorite subject, and “no” was all he said. I started to push him for an answer as I asked if he liked math or english and he said no to both. But when I asked if he liked science, he said yes.

I then asked, “If you could stop coming to school would you?” And he shook his head, “No.”

He leaned back in his chair, presumably bored, so I just ended it there. After the interview I thanked him for his time before letting him go back to class.
After that, I was kind of worried that the rest of his classmates would answer just like him. But I was humbled when I interviewed a girl named Alayna Vasquez. Alayna was very formal with her answers. Her hands were crossed in front of her in a very respectful way. She leaned forward and answered with an amazing attitude.

The first question I asked her was about her summer. “I just laid in bed and slept,” she responded.

“Did you go anywhere?” I asked.

“I went to San Antonio and,” she paused, “Yeah,” she said to herself before looking back at me, “I went to Dallas as well.”

I asked if she was going to be playing any sports.

“Yes…I’m playing volleyball right now. But I’m going to play basketball and softball.”

Next, I asked her what her favorite class was and she thought about it for a while. “My favorite class right now is probably science.”

“What do you like about it?”

“I like learning about different things in the world and, like, animals and stuff.”

“Do you like being in a new school building?” I asked and she nodded. “Yeah, I like it. It’s nicer and bigger.”

“What do you miss about elementary school?” I asked and she smiled. “I miss recess.” She responded quickly.

“Do you have a favorite teacher?”

“Ms. Enriquez.”

“Do you miss being in her class?” I asked.

“Yes,” she pauses, “I just miss her in general.”

“Do you like the four day weekend?” I asked and she nodded.

“Yes, I can get more sleep.”

The Marfa Shorthorn Newsletter

Homecoming by Giselle & Itzel

New Staff by Messiah and Isaiah

Football By Darren & Ayven

Volleyball By Maddie & Dariela

MISD Administration: Who are They? Zoey & Belen

Marfa Lights Recap By Flavio

New Sixth Grade Class By: Aubrey Tarr

Senior Year By Samantha

Cafeteria Food By Memo and Austin

Interview with Bull-ette By Janayah