5 / 6 School Design & Program Recommendations

5 / 6 Work Group Katherine Bourque Lauren Pandolfi Susan Dargie Meridith Salois Salvatore Frieri Michele Tarbox Mary Keane Thomas Underwood Kathleen O’Donnell Nicholas Witherell Matthew Wroth

Guiding Principles Design a school that will best meet the physical, social/emotional, language, and cognitive needs of 10-12 year olds Design a school that will blend the best aspects of the elementary and middle school models Design a school in which all core content areas are represented separately, but in which integration is expected and fostered Design a school that allows all students exposure to all special subject areas Design one school with consistency across two grade levels

Our Journey Met 10 times as a 5/6 school design work group Examined research and best practices as related to Intermediate school design Contacted 16 Intermediate schools in Massachusetts to gather information and ideas Collaborated with 7/8 school design facilitators to ensure continuity of programming Visited schools in Tewksbury, Shrewsbury, and Agawam Conducted Team Building and Staff Development sessions with Grade 5 and Grade 6 Teachers

Program of Studies Core - English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies Advanced Math Pathway - Grade 6 Electives - Health, P.E., Art, Music, Band, Chorus, Digital Literacy, Applied Technology English as a Second Language - Intervention time based on Levels Special Education - Inclusion Support Teachers in addition to Special Education Program Teachers Intervention Programs - Math and English Language Arts

Teaming Structure Grade Five Teams consisting of 2 teachers Neighborhoods each consisting of multiple teams Special Education and English as a Second Language teachers assigned to teams Grade Six Teams consisting of 2-4 teachers

Proposed Schedule Design Math - 80 minutes English Language Arts - 80 minutes Science - 40 minutes Social Studies - 40 minutes 2 specials - 40 minutes each Lunch and Recess - 40 minutes Morning and Afternoon Homeroom

Report Card Information 2018-2019 school year Grade 5 – standards-based grading system Grade 6 – numerical grading system Marking periods will be trimesters

Extracurricular Activities We recognize the importance of extracurricular activities for our students. The following are some suggested options: Student Leadership: Student Council, K-Kids, Builders Club, Ambassadors Fine Arts: Music, Drama, Jazz Band, Art Sports and fitness: Intramurals, Girls on the Run Yearbook Peer Mediation Homework Help Club Special Interest: Robotics, Chess Other clubs based on student input

Administrative and Support Staff Principal School Resource Officer Assistant Principals Health Office Staff Dean of Students Counselors Special Education Supervisor Educational Team Leader Office Secretaries School Behaviorist Office Paraprofessionals School Psychologist

Instructional Staff Grade 5 teachers - Humanities teachers; STEM teachers Grade 6 teachers - Humanities teachers; STEM teachers Math teacher - Grade 6 Special Subject Teachers - (PE, Health, Art, Music and Technology) Special Education teachers - Inclusion/Program English as a Second Language Teachers

Instructional Staff Instructional Coaches Interventionists Media Specialist and Media Paraprofessional

Professional Development We recognize the necessity of professional development for our teachers in Grades 5 and 6. The following are some planned areas for development: Co-teaching and Team Teaching Universal Design for Learning /Inclusive Practices Standards Based Grading PowerSchool Team Building

Thank you!! Questions & Comments