Welcome to the Middle School! Change the act or instance of making or becoming different : the change from a nomadic to an agricultural society the substitution of one thing for another : a change of venue. an alteration or modification : a change came over Eddie's face. a new or refreshingly different experience : couscous makes an interesting change from rice.

Three Topics  Changes in the middle school  Building project  Question and Answer

Changes in the middle school  Teachers will teach five periods a day in their area of certification  Teachers will be certified in their area of instruction  This caused a new schedule to be built around these two specifications

Things that didn’t change  SMS is still operating under the middle school model!!  Teachers have team time – common planning time for all teachers on the team.  Allows teachers to meet with parents.  Allows teachers to discuss students and their development.  Allows teachers to coordinate the instruction, testing, long- term projects, and develop co-curricular projects.

Things that didn’t change  Class size did not significantly increase  Foreign Language remains in the seventh and eighth grade  Algebra will still be taught in the eighth grade  No specials lost!  Band and Chorus  VMS  Seven period day

Things that did change  Art and Music in all grade levels!  Intensive computer/multi-media class will be implemented in the sixth grade  MCAS subject specific period will be offered to all students  Teacher/student load increased from 75 to in most instances 100.  Four teacher team as opposed to three teacher team  Four teams as opposed to six teams  Certified social studies teachers in all teams  Increase in transition time (passing)  Step up day is in question – but I have a plan

Things that did change  Teams  No grade level students will be mixed!!  One eighth grade team consisting of 100 students  One seventh/eight grade team consisting of two classes of seventh graders (50 students) and two classes of eighth grade students (50 students)  One seventh/sixth grade team consisting of three classes of seventh graders (75 students) and two classes of sixth grade students (50 students)  One sixth grade team consisting of four classes of sixth graders (100 students)  Possibility of looping

Building Project  Timeline:  Phase 1: Portables, Abatement & Demolition  June, July, and August 2011  Phase 2: New Construction  June 2011 through December 2012  Proposed move-in date January 2013  Phase 3: Core Renovation  February 2013 through May 2014  Demolition of H.S. June – September 2014

Building Project  Three days from the end of this current school year, teachers will have to be packed up  Contents of teachers rooms will be stored in storage containers until the portables arrive in August  Storage containers will be unpacked upon delivery of portables

Building Project  Portables will contain the eight grade team and the seven/eight grade team  Library, Nurses’ office, and Office will be located in the portable units  ALL students will have to go through the portables to get to classes  White Noise

Building Project  There will be running water in the portables  They will be air conditioned  They will be new!!  There will be no lockers  ** Supply list for students HAS BEEN MINIMIZED

Building Project  Sixth grade team and seventh/sixth grade team will be housed in the elementary school  Art and Tech-Ed will remain where they are currently located  Students will eat in the current cafeteria  Students will start their day in the cafeteria area and released at the start of the school day (the current plan subject to change)

Building Project

 Circle and parking Construction Current middle school Elementary School Current Core Portable Units

For More Information on the Building Project  MA_Bcomm/schoolbuild

Questions/Answers  Please ask any questions  Allow me to get back to you if I don’t have the answer  I will respond by