Why We Seat Students Where We Seat Them

Why We Seat Students Where We Seat Them (And No, We’re Not Trying to Torture Them)

By Mrs. Natasha Brady, Head of School

There is a very specific moment in the life of a BHCA middle schooler.

It usually happens the minute they walk out to the parking lot for a field trip and see…

…the seating chart.

This is followed by:

• dramatic sighs

• “BUT MY FRIENDS ARE ALL IN THAT CAR!”

• or the famous:
  “Mrs. Brady, this is LITERALLY the worst thing that has ever happened to me.”
  
  

(Meanwhile, I’ve been through childbirth, accreditation, and middle-school drama queens. I promise… it’s not the worst.)

So, in the spirit of transparency — and because I know parents are curious too — here’s why we seat kids the way we do.

Reason #1: Safety. Yes, really.

We simply can’t have a child under 12 in the front seat.

Do you know who can sit in the front seat?

Kids ages 12+.

Do you know who we have… not a ton of?

Kids ages 12+.

Do you know what this means?

We need those older kids.
We treasure those older kids.
We rely on those older kids.

Because if we don’t have a 12+ year-old in the passenger seat, SOMEONE can't go on the field trip…

So yes, sometimes little Sarah doesn’t get to sit with her BFF Harper-JoBelle on the treacherous, perilous, dangerously windy 4-minute drive down Cottonwood Lane.

But guess what?

She still gets to go to the field trip.
That’s the goal.

Reason #2: Logistics trump emotions (just for the car ride).

If you think assigning seats at Thanksgiving dinner is stressful…

Try fitting 27 middle schoolers into 6 cars, following:

• age rules

• seatbelt rules

• behavior dynamics

• space limits

• which car has trunk space

• which kid gets carsick

• which siblings need separation

• which kids CAN’T sit together unless we want WWIII
  
  

Friends, it’s like playing Tetris on expert mode.
Blindfolded.
With a timer.
While the blocks are yelling at you.

I promise you — I am not sitting in my office (wait, I don't have an office) thinking:

“How can I personally ruin their social life today?”

But sometimes the puzzle pieces only fit one way.
And that way is… not with all their friends.

Reason #3: We actually ARE trying to torture them.

Just kidding.
(Or am I?)

😉

Reason #4: It builds flexibility.

Life is full of moments where you have to do things you don’t want to do:

• sit next to your coworker who chews loudly

• use the grocery cart with the squeaky wheel

• attend a meeting that could’ve been an email (sorry staff)

• let your spouse drive even though they brake too late (looking at you, Mr. Brady 👀)
  
  

Learning to handle small inconveniences with a good attitude is part of growing up.

And honestly?
A 6-minute car ride is a GREAT place to practice.

Reason #5: They end up having fun anyway.

Do you know how many times a kid has come running up to me after a field trip saying:

“I sat with someone new and it was actually SO FUN!”

All. The. Time.

Okay, that has never actually happened, but they do still have fun on the field trip. ;)

The Bottom Line

I know seating charts feel personal to kids — but to us, they’re a puzzle of safety, legality, logistics, personalities, and sanity.

I promise you:

• We aren’t punishing anyone.

• We aren’t playing favorites.

• We definitely aren’t intentionally tormenting your child.
  
  

We’re just doing the best we can to get every single kid to the field trip safely… and with as few tears as possible.

(Preferably zero. But we’re realistic.)

Thanks for trusting us — even when your child dramatically declares their life is over because they’re sitting in a different car for seven minutes.

We love your kids.
We love field trips.
We love survival.

🐝💛