Muir Middle School, home of the Muir Hawkeyes, is now also home to the former Highland Scots. On March 3, the Huron Valley Board of Education voted to close Highland Middle School. They did so to save the district close to one million dollars. The merging of the two schools was a major change for the whole community. Students, teachers, parents, coaches, and many other people have been affected in one way or another.

“It will be two years of change, really,” said former Highland science teacher, and cross country coach, Shelley Gustafson, “because we’ll have the seventh graders and eighth graders who were used to Highland. And then, after that it will be the status quo.” Many problems were expected when the two middle schools were combined into one. Gustafson was pleasantly surprised by the lack of tension between the students. There were no major incidents like she had expected. Now, Highland spirit gear is a regular sight in the halls of Muir Middle.

There have been many adjustments for the Muir teachers and students, both new and old. “It’s always been Highland versus Muir,” stated Gustafson. “We’ve been the two schools that eventually merge and go to Milford. But in my eyes, it’s just now we are merging three years earlier.”

Tenth grader Katie Bell agreed. “Now that the middle schools have been joined together, I hope that the rivalry is nonexistent. That way friendships can be made earlier and they will be taken to Milford as very strong friendships,” said Bell.

Gustafson said the hardest change for the students is cheering for themselves. This is due to the old archrival between Highland and Muir. “It is hard to suddenly go from identifying as a Highland Scot to being a Muir Hawkeye,” said Gustafson.
Former Highland students had different opinions about their new school. “It was like sixth grade all over again,” said eighth grader Megan Waxman, a former Highland student. “We are all making friends between both schools, but it was hard at first,” said Waxman.

The layout Muir Middle School is considerably different compared to Highland’s. “The first day I did not know where any of my classes were,” exclaimed eighth grader Ben Dipiazza.

New Muir eighth grader, Dana Dziedzic expressed that the merge has been hindered, mainly in one way. The identification of students is still separated by Highland and Muir labels. “The teachers make the differentiation between the students from each school… they tell us to combine as one, but they keep on calling us Highland kids and Muir kids,” stated Dziedzic.

The students who transferred from Highland to Muir were not the only ones who experienced great change in their lives; students who were originally from Muir also had a new experience this year. Thankfully, the hurt feelings between the students from both schools did not last long.

“It was hard at the beginning of the year because we were not used to it,” stated eighth grader Sammy Reed, who was originally from Muir. “We are all pretty okay with it now…I guess people have already accepted it.”

The addition of more than 300 students, more lockers, and new teachers, have altered Muir from its previous state. Also, Muir has now added a half an hour per day devoted to reading (Silent Sustained Reading) and assigned seats in lunch.

Eighth grader Paige Miller, a seasoned Muir student said that the assigned seats were an odd change to her school. Miller expressed how happy she was that the students got to at least pick their own seats. “The lunch tables are very mixed with both Highland and Muir students,” said Miller.

New and old Muir students alike decided that the biggest change for everyone is the number of students now attending Muir. “The hardest part is trying to get through the hallway,” says Reed. She expressed her surprise with the number of students now attending Muir.

“It is really crowded… way more crowded than Highland, times four,” said new Muir eighth grader Ben Dipiazza.

Despite all of these troubles, Muir and highland students have bonded and are already acting as one student body.

Ben Dipiazza said that students from both schools hang out together outside of school, and they are beginning to see themselves as one school.

“Now, I don’t even care what middle school my friends went to, they are just my friends, so what does it matter,” said Bell.