Great Meadows Middle School
School
Profile
Great Meadows Middle School is
an exemplary middle school of approximately 365 students that uses a team
structure to personalize the educational environment. The middle school prides
itself upon building a community of learners who benefit from meaningful
learning opportunities and a broad range of educational programs and services.
The philosophy of the school reflects the specific needs of adolescent learners
with respect to the most available data and research about teaching and
learning. The number of general
education students who scored in either the “proficient” or “advanced
proficient” categories on the Eighth Grade Proficiency Assessment was 87% in
Language Arts, 73% in Mathematics and 87% in Science.
Students attend core academic classes in a flexible block schedule. The core academic program includes
mathematics, language arts, science, social studies, world language and
wellness components. The educational
experiences of all students are further enriched through an extensive array of
exploratory course offerings. Our
Encore classes offer a variety of exploratory programs, which include Art,
Computers, General Music, Life Skills, Performing Arts and Technology
Education. Our music program offers instrumental lessons, chorus, concert band,
and an after school jazz band. In 2003, 30% of the eighth graders qualified to
take the high school algebra course while in eighth grade.
Every morning, students are greeted with a student-produced, live television broadcast
in each classroom. Student birthdays, important announcements, sports results,
the lunch menu, weather and a Project Wisdom quote of the day are components of
the broadcast. Various instructional technologies are incorporated into all
aspects of study at the middle school. The district subscribes to various
on-line resources that enable students to continue their academic and
technological experiences at home.
The maintenance of a supportive and collaborative
relationship between the home and the school is demonstrated through the
school’s continued commitment to improving communication and through its
ability to efficiently disseminate pertinent information. Each classroom is equipped with a telephone
for teacher use with voice mail and message capabilities. A school-wide
“Homework Hotline” provides students and parents unlimited access to the list
of assignments from each teacher.
School newsletters, though distributed through hard copy to students,
are always available in digital form from the school web-site.
The students at Great Meadows Middle School benefit from the support of a full
time Guidance Counselor and Child Study Team. In addition, all students
participate in a JACS - Jaguars Acquiring Citizenship Skills – an advisory
period facilitated by a faculty advisor during which students talk honestly
about subjects of importance to them in a non-threatening atmosphere. The
overall purpose of the group is to provide additional opportunities for
students to share thoughts and feelings in a small group setting, thus creating
a sense of significance and belonging.
Success at Great Meadows Middle School stems from the collaborative efforts of
our dedicated and creative teachers and support personnel, along with the
support of our concerned and involved parents. Individual staff members
continue to stay abreast of effective teaching strategies and techniques by
attending a variety of professional development workshops. Many teachers also
participate in district discussion groups and collaborative projects aimed at
improving instruction. Our GMMS PATHS -
Parents and Teachers Helping Students - organization supports the school by
providing funds and volunteers for a variety of enrichment programs, after school
activities, assembly programs and student events throughout the school year.