This week on In the Middle With You, we continue our friendship series with a twist—sharing unfiltered feedback directly from middle school students. We break down key themes from the data we gathered to give parents real insight into what friendships are actually like at this age. Our goal is to offer tangible takeaways that help strengthen parent–child relationships as kids navigate one of the biggest areas of growth in middle school. Don’t miss this important conversation.

Hosted by:

Gaia Altshuler - Social Emotional Counselor

Tammy Kuku - Vice Principal

Editing and Engineering by:

Tyler Erickson - Educational Technologist

In the Middle With You is back for a new semester! Hosts Gaia Altshuler and Tammy Kuku share exciting updates and kick off the highly anticipated Friendship Series. This week, they explore the character traits that make a good friend and invite listeners to shift the question from “Why doesn’t anyone want to be my friend?” to the more meaningful “Am I being a good friend?” A thoughtful, encouraging conversation to start the season strong.

Hosted by:

Gaia Altshuler - Social Emotional Counselor

Tammy Kuku - Vice Principal

Editing and Engineering by:

Tyler Erickson - Educational Technologist

As we wrap up an incredible semester, we want to say a heartfelt thank you for journeying with us. In this episode, we share a few of our favorite moments from the past months: those highlights that reminded us why we love walking alongside our middle school community.

We also look ahead to what’s coming in the new semester and offer a few reflections to help you step into the break with peace, intention, and joy. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a season filled with rest, connection, and meaningful time with your family. We can’t wait to be back with you in 2026!

Hosted by:

Gaia Altshuler - Social Emotional Counselor

Tammy Kuku - Vice Principal

Editing and Engineering by:

Tyler Erickson - Educational Technologist