1. 5 / 6 School Design & Program Recommendations

2. 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

3. Guiding Principles
Design a school that will best meet the physical, social/emotional, language, and cognitive needs of 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Instructional Staff Instructional Coaches Interventionists
Media Specialist and Media Paraprofessional

13. 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

14. Thank you!!
Questions & Comments