Story by School News Network – The question “How’s school?” became a vehicle for transformation at Eastern Middle School this year. Prior to school letting out for the summer, students were asked to sound off on topics such as class content, school culture and community, bullying, the transition from elementary school to seventh grade, and electives. This gathering of feedback was part of “8 for 8 Day,” which kicked off with a school-wide assembly about autism then included breakouts related to the district’s eight guiding principles. Seventh- and eighth-grade students participated in one of four workshops. Throughout the day, small groups of students also took part in discussions facilitated by Student Voice executive director, Merrit Jones, and chief strategist, Megan Simmons. The goal was for students to think more critically about their educational experiences and brainstorm areas for improvement. Additional sessions students could select from included outdoor education, social media challenges and responsibilities, reading for pleasure, responding to bullying, career goals and action plans, transitioning to high school, and many more. To learn more about Student Voice and read more about Eastern Middle School’s experience, read the complete story online with School News Network.