Madisyn Blackman is Southport Central School’s only rising seventh grader moving onto Boothbay Region Elementary School this year. Blackman started at SCS in second grade after attending BRES for kindergarten and first grade.

Being the lone one in her class is very weird, said Blackman. It comes with a lot of solitary work and group work with younger schoolmates. Blackman said she had one other person in her grade last year, but that student moved on.

“My least favorite part is being the center of attention in things,” Blackman laughed. “But my favorite part is being able to do my own things sometimes.”

Principal Lisa Clarke said having only one graduate is unusual especially after welcoming 11 students during the pandemic. “We did have a lot of students come here and they have been great additions, but not anyone in sixth grade … It's an anomaly just to have one, but it happens.”

One of the last big events for Blackman as a sixth grader will be an overnight camping trip at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson. SCS has invited last year’s sixth graders to join Blackman, bringing the old gang back together which will be a great transition point for Blackman, said Clarke.

“They've got two days and one night of fat tire biking, swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, campfire and tenting overnight … It will give Madisyn a chance to kind of talk with them about what it's like in junior high in Boothbay and to get some pointers.”

Blackman said she is steeling herself for the spotlight of all the graduation fanfare; the traditional firetruck parade is still on and will feature her atop the first truck with fifth grade friend Makayla Abbe. Clarke said she hopes Southport residents will make their way outside with signs, musical instruments and other celebratory gestures for Blackman. After the parade, SCS will have an ice cream social for school families. It will include some outside activity, she said.

“We are doing it that way because we have wonderful support here on Southport Island. There are so many residents who want to help the school to celebrate the children, so we're asking them to come out,” Clarke said, turning to Blackman. “We want to honor and respect Madisyn's wishes, where you don't like all the attention on you. I think it's going to feel good to know that there are so many people who care about you.”

Blackman said while she will miss being able to form relationships with students of all ages and the quiet of her solo study, she is opening up to the idea of new friends.

“It's (been) different than I thought it would be. I thought there would be more people and I wasn't going to be the only one. It's going to be a change from going to big school to small school, back to big school.”

“Do you think you’re ready?” asked Clarke.

“Yes.”