MIDDLE SCHOOL. Family guide for school year

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1 MIDDLE SCHOOL Family guide for school year 1

2 UNIQUE SCHOOLS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 6-8 Middle school students are inquisitive, unique and social individuals. They are figuring out who they are and what they want their lives to be. We know and understand middle school students. We appreciate their energy, creativity and curiosity. We ve designed new middle schools to meet the unique social, emotional and academic needs of this specific age group. Our primary focus is success for all students so they thrive during these middle school years. We re excited about what s being created and how our new middle schools will benefit your child. VISION ONE91 Our new middle schools will open for the school year as part of Vision One91 in Burnsville- Eagan-Savage School District 191. The goal of Vision One91 is to redesign the district to meet the needs of today s learners and ensure the district s mission of Each Student Real-World Ready. Our redesign involves realigning grades so elementary schools serve grades K-5, current junior highs transform to middle schools with grades 6-8, and Burnsville High School will become a comprehensive high school serving grades As part of Vision One91, there will be new funding to significantly increase student access to technology, online resources, collaborative problem-solving experiences and different approaches to learning. Teachers will receive ongoing training and support to embed technology into everyday learning and individualize instruction. My daily mission is to make every student in my class feel important and provide them with the opportunity and encouragement to do their best academically and personally. They become my kids when they are put on my class list. PEG CHALLGREN, TEACHER 2 3

3 NEW MIDDLE SCHOOLS We re taking the best of what we had in all three junior highs, and sharing it in all three new middle schools. We re also adding quality elements that we ve come across in extensive research of best practices to create a unique design we call STEA 3 M. Every middle school will be a STEA 3 M school with science, technology, engineering and math. Each school will also have three As for Arts, AVID and Advanced Learning. The arts will include choirs, bands, orchestra and theater. AVID, a college prep program, will be optional. Advanced Learning will provide academic rigor in many ways through Honor courses, differentiated learning and other enrichment opportunities. Full STEA 3 M ahead in Science: Full year in grades 6, 7 and 8 Technology: All students in grades 6 & 7, elective in grade 8 Engineering: Project Lead the Way in grades 6 & 7, elective in grade 8 Arts, AVID and Advanced Learning in grades 6, 7 and 8 Mathematics in grades 6, 7 and 8 The curriculum designed for our middle schools will be interdisciplinary, project and inquiry-based, and will focus on key units of study aligned to national and state standards. The STEA 3 M mindset will be embedded in all lessons and will challenge students to reach their highest potential and reflect on the importance of STEA 3 M as a foundation for high school, college and career success. We are preparing our students for success in the real world, so that all doors are open for them to follow their dreams. 4 RIGOR RELEVANCE OPPORTUNITY COMMUNITY Rigor and relevance The new STEA 3 M middle schools will include these STEM and Gifted/ Talented elements that will provide a focus on rigor and relevance. STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATH) Our middle school model increases STEM programming. All students will have exploratory classes in technology education focused on digital literacy in both 6th and 7th grade as well as Project Lead the Way (PLTW) engineering courses in Design & Modeling and Automation & Robotics. All students in 8th grade will have elective opportunities in PLTW in Green Architecture with Energy in the Environment and Science of Technology & Magic of Electrons and as well as Digital Age and Computer Animation courses. STEM enrichment opportunities during Blaze Success Time will be offered to interested students. GIFTED/TALENTED (GT) Our middle school model expands current GT enrichment programming to all three middle schools. GT programming will continue to utilize the Honors/Enriched course model in Literary Arts, Social Studies, and Science and accelerated Math. GT students will have expanded opportunities with new Honors Communications. During Blaze Success Time, GT enrichment opportunities in all core areas will be developed and offered to interested students. 5

4 Here s an example of a typical middle school schedule: Period*... Course/Subject (*about 45 minutes each) 1...Literary Arts 2...Communications 3... Math 4... Blaze Success Time ADVISORY LUNCH 5...Science 6...Social Studies 7... Physical Education/Electives 8...Exploratory Period CHALLENGING STUDENTS TO REACH HIGHEST POTENTIAL KEY ELEMENTS Rigor, opportunity and community All three middle schools will offer similar programming and opportunities. Here s an overview: Each student will be assigned to an interdisciplinary team of teachers. An eight-period day (plus advisory) will allow students the opportunity to explore more subjects and interests. Advisory will focus on college/career readiness, social and emotional learning standards, community building, and enhancing the relationships between students and teachers. Honors classes will be offered in 6th, 7th and 8th grade in core subject areas (literary arts, social studies and science). Math acceleration for qualified students will continue in 6th, 7th and 8th grades. All students will have one period each day for reading instruction at their level with students at the same level. All students will participate for one period each day in enrichment, acceleration or intervention programming that we call Blaze Success Time. Expanded elective and exploratory offerings are being developed. Every middle school will have strong Gifted/Talented and STEM programming. Every middle school will have opportunities for qualifying students to participate in AVID, a college prep program. Our middle schools EAGLE RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL Glendale Road, Savage (952) METCALF MIDDLE SCHOOL 2250 Diffley Road, Burnsville (952) NICOLLET MIDDLE SCHOOL 400 E. 134th St., Burnsville (952) More information is also available on the district s website at If you are new to the district, please contact our Welcome Center to register at welcomecenter@isd191.org or (952)

5 MIDDLE SCHOOL Eagle Ridge Middle School Metcalf Middle School Nicollet Middle School 8