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We are the tigers

by Erik Wong

Sixth-grader Justin Oliver doesn't have to worry about the seventh-grade bullies or even the eighth-graders for that matter. At Terman Middle School, sixth graders are kings and queens of the hill for at least the rest of the school year.

The entire school - just 165 sixth-graders this year -- sat silently on the floor of the Terman cafeteria, their enthusiasm heavily bridled in eager anticipation of the opening ceremonies of their school Oct. 5.

Students burst into loud cheers when Palo Alto school board member Cathy Kroymann and Terman Middle School principal Larry Thomas cut the ceremonial ribbon, officially welcoming the Class of 2004 to its temporary home at the former Garland Elementary School on North California Avenue.

"This is truly a momentous occasion," Thomas said. "It is not only the birth of an educational organization, but the rebirth of a school so special to those who knew it."

Terman Middle School is named in honor of both Frederick E. Terman, a Stanford engineer, and his father Lewis Terman, an early 20th-century psychologist. The school also shares its name with the former Terman Junior High School, which closed in 1978.

The new Terman is the district's first middle school to open in a decade. Each school year, Terman will enroll a new sixth-grade class until a complete sixth- through eighth-grade middle school transfers to its permanent site on Arastradero Road, the current location of the Jewish Community Center.

On hand for last Friday's ceremonies were Terrence and Frederick W. Terman, who are the grandsons of Lewis Terman. Former Terman principal John Martin and several former Terman faculty also attended the impromptu reunion.

"The old Terman had great tigers and great teachers," Martin told the sixth-graders. "Now is the chance to continue and improve upon that tradition and I am thrilled at the prospect of an even greater Terman in the years to come."

Many speakers urged the new Terman class to appreciate the stories behind their new school. Frederick W. took students back in time to 1888, when his grandfather was a sixth-grader in Indiana. His brother Terrence spoke of the Terman credo of "integration toward a goal," and asked students to aim for excellence in life.

Kroymann recounted the school's more recent history and described the three-year struggle involved in securing a permanent site. The story began, Kroymann said, when officials reviewed district policy requiring that enrollment at all middle schools be kept between 600 and 900 students per school.

"It was a long process, but all throughout we knew (opening a new middle school) was the right thing to do," she said. "And looking at you today, I am certain it was the right thing to do."

As the sixth-graders grew fidgety, it was clear that students were more than ready to break for the all-school carnival, which immediately followed the ceremonies. Leading the school in a cheer inspired by the motion picture "Remember the Titans," a group of students shouted, "We are the tigers! The mighty Terman Tigers!" And with that, the ceremonies broke for the carnival, sponsored by the Terman PTA.

As he watched the carnival festivities, Thomas expressed confidence in Terman Middle School's capacity to succeed as Palo Alto's third middle school.

"What's special about the mission and vision of Terman is that it was developed by the people here at this school," he said. "The people are the vision."

The most pressing challenge currently facing the school is the location of the interim site, according to Thomas.

With most of Terman's sixth-graders living in Palo Alto's Barron Park neighborhood, many students are being bused to school. A handful come from as far as Los Altos Hills.

Ken Peters says that his son Jason must wake up every school day at 7 a.m. to catch the 7:40 bus. He has no regrets, however.

Terman's opening ceremonies were originally scheduled for Sept. 14, but were postponed following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"It's good to have a fun event in times like these," Peters said. "Kids are having fun."

E-mail Erik Wong at ewong@paweekly.com