Episode Summary
In this special student-led episode of The BAGO Mic, Sean, Etta, and Katsumi reflect on their fifth grade year and share advice for next year’s students. The conversation explores favorite memories, challenges, friendships, growth, and what students learned throughout their final year of elementary school.
The students discuss everything from state testing and favorite books to sports, friendships, podcasting, and classroom experiences. They reflect on moments that challenged them, skills they improved, and experiences that helped shape who they became throughout the school year.
Throughout the episode, the students offer advice for future fifth graders about hard work, studying, friendships, paying attention, and making the most of opportunities in school. They also discuss what helped them succeed academically and socially while sharing honest reflections about their own experiences.
This episode serves as both a celebration and a passing of the torch. Sean, Etta, and Katsumi share encouragement for next year’s students while reflecting on the importance of student voice, kindness, and making meaningful memories throughout the school year.
Show Notes
- Favorite memories from fifth grade
- Advice for next year’s students
- Challenges, growth, and success
- Podcast reflections and student voice
- Passing the mic to the next class
Key Takeaways
- Growth happens through challenges and practice.
- Friendships and relationships shape school experiences.
- Paying attention and working hard lead to success.
- Student voices help create stronger school communities.
Hainipi… Hi everyone. Welcome to The BAGO Mic, powered by Student Voice, where students lead the way.
Etta: We are students from Winnebago Public Schools broadcasting from the Winnebago Native American Reservation in Winnebago, Nebraska.
Katsumi: This podcast is created by us for the world.
Sean: Let’s start by introducing ourselves. My name is Sean.
Etta: My name is Etta.
Katsumi: My name is Katsumi.
Sean: Today’s episode is about our fifth grade year, advice for next year’s students, and passing The BAGO Mic to the next class. Before we begin, we want to share something we’re thankful for.
Sean: I’m thankful for my family.
Etta: I’m thankful for Kohli.
Katsumi: I’m thankful for Wisteria.
Sean: Now let’s get into it. Once again, today we are talking about our fifth grade year, advice for next year, and passing the mic.
Etta: What was your favorite memory this year?
Etta: My favorite memory is when we had that pizza party.
Katsumi: Mine is whenever we got to go bowling with the class.
Etta: I don’t know if that was this year.
Katsumi: Yeah, that was this year.
Etta: Also, what was something funny that happened?
Katsumi: Wait, like a specific time or just something funny during the year?
Etta: Like just something funny that happened.
Katsumi: I was rage baiting my sister after school.
Etta: That was after school. What happened?
Katsumi: We were arguing with each other while playing four square at Boys and Girls Club.
Etta: What is Boys and Girls Club?
Katsumi: It’s a place kids go after school. You have to sign up. It’s separated into bigs and littles.
Etta: Which one counts as bigs and littles?
Katsumi: Bigs are fourth grade and above. Littles are third grade and below.
Etta: What was something hard this year? For me it was state testing.
Katsumi: Mine was when I heard my dad had to go to jail and I didn’t want to leave his house yet.
Etta: At school though. School stuff.
Katsumi: Oh, I keep forgetting. Then maybe when I get asked questions and really don’t know the answer.
Etta: What about you, Sean?
Sean: The state test.
Etta: Did you do good?
Sean: Yeah. I did pretty good.
Etta: I think I did good too. What surprised you about this year? What surprised me is that we only have like nine days left of school already.
Katsumi: Something surprising for me was when we started reading Wonders because I didn’t think I was going to like it.
Etta: So you like Wonders?
Katsumi: Yeah.
Etta: What about you, Sean?
Sean: That we only got a few days until summer.
Etta: I know. Nine days and then we’re middle schoolers.
Etta: What is something you got better at?
Etta: Since math got harder, I learned more and got better at math. I also read more books, got better at reading, and got better at drawing.
Katsumi: What kind of stuff do you draw?
Etta: Characters. Fish too. Fish are my favorite animal.
Katsumi: I got better at socializing with others in school.
Etta: Like making friends or talking more?
Katsumi: Talking more and talking to people.
Etta: What about you, Sean?
Sean: I got better at basketball and books like Who Would Win.
Etta: You like those books?
Sean: Yes. They’re my favorite books.
Katsumi: What basketball team were you on?
Sean: Tournament basketball in South Sioux.
Etta: Do you remember your team name?
Sean: I forgot.
Katsumi: That’s okay.
Etta: What is something you were nervous about at first?
Sean: My tests at school.
Etta: That was one for me too. I was nervous about who my classmates would be and who my teacher would be.
Katsumi: I was nervous when I found out we were doing podcasts.
Etta: But here we are. What’s something you were proud of this year?
For me, my test scores. I worked really hard and did really good on tests.
Katsumi: I’m proud that I got better at math. Especially fractions because I didn’t understand them before.
Sean: I’m proud when I win softball games.
Etta: You play softball?
Sean: Yes.
Etta: How many sports do you play?
Sean: Three or four. Kickball, softball, basketball, and football.
Etta: Which one is your favorite?
Sean: Basketball.
Katsumi: I played volleyball, softball, basketball, and a little wrestling.
Etta: Are you doing softball this summer?
Katsumi: I don’t know yet. Part of me wants to and part of me doesn’t, so maybe yes and maybe no.
Etta: What is something you’ll remember from this class or fifth grade overall?
Katsumi: I’ll remember these podcasts.
Etta: I probably will too.
Katsumi: What about you, Sean?
Sean: I’ll remember my friends and hope I have some of the same friends next year.
Etta: Yeah. I think I’ll remember this class because these people feel like my class.
Katsumi: So now we’re moving on to advice for next year. What should next year’s students not worry about?
Sean: If someone says, “Where’s my friend?” don’t worry about it. Just focus on your work.
Etta: Yeah. Focus on work because if you don’t focus, you won’t learn it.
Katsumi: I think they shouldn’t worry about popularity.
Etta: That’s true. Focus more on grades and work.
Katsumi: What should they take seriously?
Etta: State testing. That’s really important because it’s different than normal tests.
Sean: They should take tests seriously. Social studies, science, silent reading, and not messing around.
Katsumi: Homework too. If you get homework, take it seriously.
Etta: What helped you succeed in fifth grade?
For me it was listening and studying at home.
Katsumi: For me it was focusing on what the topic was and staying on task.
Sean: Math strategies and multiplication charts helped me.
Etta: What would you do differently?
Katsumi: If I’m giving advice to next year’s students, I’d say don’t talk during class.
Etta: Yeah. Talking can distract you and then you don’t know what’s happening.
Sean: Reading Who Would Win books helped me.
Etta: What should students avoid?
For me, messing around when teachers are talking.
Katsumi: Not paying attention. If you miss directions, then you have to ask for help because you missed it.
Sean: Yeah.
Etta: What made your year better?
For me it was studying more and learning new things.
Katsumi: Math made my year better because when I learn something new it makes me happy.
Sean: Playing sports with my family made my year better.
Etta: What habit helped you this year?
Sean: Memorizing numbers and math facts.
Katsumi: When I get stressed, I play with random things like my fingers or sweater strings because it calms me down.
Etta: That can help people calm down and focus.
Katsumi: What should students do on the first day of school?
Etta: Get familiar with your classmates and teacher.
Katsumi: Yeah, because if you don’t know people it can feel overwhelming.
Sean: Work hard right away and listen to your teacher.
Etta: Now we’re moving to the last part — passing the mic.
Katsumi: What should next year’s students do to make this podcast great?
Etta: Practice more and make more episodes.
Sean: Be good on the podcast and make it great.
Katsumi: Add more questions and longer answers so conversations keep going.
Etta: Yeah, build conversations instead of short answers.
Katsumi: What advice do you have for speaking on the mic?
Katsumi: Don’t speak too softly or too loudly.
Etta: Speak loud enough for the mic but not so loud that it hurts ears. Also don’t hold paper over your mouth because it blocks the sound.
Sean: Talk soft but not too soft. Not too loud either.
Katsumi: What makes a good podcast episode?
Etta: Building conversations. If you only give short answers, episodes get too short.
Katsumi: Staying on topic and staying focused.
Sean: Be respectful and use some Ho-Chunk words sometimes.
Katsumi: What should students not do with the microphone?
Etta: Don’t tap it because it makes loud noises.
Sean: Don’t put your mouth on the mic.
Katsumi: Yeah. That’s gross and could ruin it.
Etta: Why does student voice matter?
Etta: Because students’ opinions matter and students should share ideas.
Sean: Student voices matter because people should be kind and listen.
Katsumi: If student voices didn’t matter, students wouldn’t enjoy school as much.
Etta: What should next year’s class continue doing?
Sean: Social studies, silent reading, and BAGO Mic.
Katsumi: Staying on topic and being kind.
Etta: Also making sure the podcast keeps going because it matters.
Sean: Thanks for listening to The BAGO Mic.
Etta: Remember — your voice matters, our story matters, and you matter.
Katsumi: Wa’įniginąpšąną.
Žige hąącikjawi.