William C. Alexander Middle School

1. William C. Alexander Middle School “Teaching Today, to Prepare Students for Tomorrow”

2. Philosophy “At William C. Alexander Middle School, we strive to meet not only the academic needs of our students, but also to exemplify and teach important life skills that will enable them to give back to society. We seek to create an environment that is nurturing for young adolescents, where they can grow and develop in a place that is safe for both students and staff. We believe that involving the community in the academics and in the lives of our students is key in keeping our students involved and in keeping the community and the school on the same page. We seek to construct our curriculum to be engaging to our students and to cater to the unique developmental stages of young adolescence.”

3. Organization WCAMS caters to students in grades 6th through 8th grade. “Youth between the ages of 10 and 15 are characterized by their diversity… as a group, they reflect important developmental characteristics that have major implications for parents, educators, and others who care for them and seek to promote their healthy growth and positive development.” (TWB, 53)

4. Teaming • 3 teams for each gradeEach team has 4 teachers. The average ratio is 1 teacher to 25 students. Our school accommodates 900 students in 6th to 8th grade. • 6th grade teams: Dolphins, Sharks, Lobsters • 7th grade teams: Tigers, Gorillas, Gators • 8th grade teams: T-Rex, Raptors, Pterodactyl

5. schedule

6. Advisory • Scheduled to meet 30 minutes, daily • Teachers and school faculty will serve as advisors ( after serving two consecutive years prior, they have an option to opt out for the third year) • Advisory will be non-academic and grading will be based off of participation • Central focus solely on students’ best interest and growth • Each advisor creates their own lesson plans but follows a standard outline of what to discuss. All plans will be approved by administration.

7. EXPLORING ADVISORY 6th Grade: 7th Grade:Transition Emotion and Health FactorsD.A.R.E. reviews Community involvement/activism Bullying Internet Awareness8th grade mentoring 8th Grade: Transition to high school Sex Education Ways to prevent bullying

8. Instruction • 21st century learning; incorporating technology in all aspects of learning • “sensitive to individual differences and varied learning styles, respond positively to the many dimensions of diversity students present…” (TWB, 15) • Enrichment experiences and democratic learning • “hands-joined” activities • Interactive Lessons

9. Tracking • Each team is a mixture of ability levels • Core-Academic Tracking by Ability Level: AIG, Regular, Inclusion, Exceptional Learner • Exploratory, Advisory, and Homeroom are a heterogeneous setting • Administrators will regularly monitor how teachers challenge EVERY student • Teachers must make a high achievement goal for everybody!

10. Curriculum • “Successful middle schools for young adolescents provide curriculum that is challenging, exploratory, integrative, and relevant.” (TWB 17) • Promotes an intimate learner-centered environment where each student is engaged and challenged despite various ability levels. • Units are focused on helping students make sense of their lives and the world around them. • Encourages students to take action, make informed choices, work collaboratively, and solve conflicts in effective ways. • Emphasizes the use of technology in the classroom, and curriculum units are focused on advancing students’ skills and knowledge in core and non-core subject areas.

11. Core Curriculum • Language Arts/Reading • Social Studies (Integrate visual information, cultures, and geographic areas with print and digital texts) • Mathematics (Basic Math, Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, AP Calculus, Advanced Functions & Modeling) • Science (Earth Science, Biology, Physical Science, Geology) • All core subjects are based on the Common Core Standards Interdisciplinary, integrated and focused on using 21st-century curriculum

12. Non-Core Curriculum • Advisory Programs • Exploratory Classes (ex: Weight lifting, knitting, hiking, baking) • Clubs (ex: Yearbook, newspaper, student government, dance) • Athletic Programs (ex: Football, soccer, basketball, softball, baseball, wrestling, track and field, cheerleading) • Intramurals (ex: Volleyball, flag football, ping-pong, kickball) • Band (Marching and symphonic) • Arts (ex: Basic Art, Ceramics, Painting) • Chorus • Health/Physical Education • Foreign Language Courses (ex: Spanish, French, German) • Computer Studies • SAT/ACT Preparation Courses

13. Exceptional Learners • Follows the IDEA purpose to “ensure that each child is educated in the least restrictive environment possible unless specified to be placed in a special class”. • IEPs • Establish child’s education team consisting of regular team teachers, EC teachers, and parents of the child. • Specialized help; WCAMS has 2 EC teachers per grade that rotate and help in inclusion and exceptional learning classrooms.

14. School Personnel • Principal media specialists • Assistant principal librarian • Secretary cafeteria personnel • 6thand 7th grade Guidance Counselor custodians • 8th grade guidance counselor bus drivers * • Nurse/nutritionist special education specialists • resource officer

15. Community “The community is a major educational resource, providing varied learning experiences and resource persons for ongoing classroom settings.” (TWB, 23) Parent and community involvement is a huge part of our success at WCAMS. The support of the community helps our school run smoothly.

16. Community Involvement • Parent Night hosted every nine weeks • Community Culture Night • Community Recreational Department utilizes fields at the middle school for sporting events • Fundraising (car washes, bake sale, recycling) • Career Day- apprenticeships, shadow studies, service-learning agencies • Relay for Life, Awareness walks • Community Nutritional Courses