WELCOME TO MMS

WHAT IS A MIDDLE SCHOOL? 

A middle school is a friendly and safe place that provides a challenging academic environment designed to address the needs of 11- to 14-year-olds. Middle schools were created to help this diverse, active group of young people learn and move successfully through this important stage of life. The idea behind the middle school is to create small communities within the school. This provides students with many opportunities to develop academic skills, acquire fundamental knowledge, determine their interests and special talents, and experience a sense of belonging. Middle school focuses upon helping students satisfy their need for close relationships with teachers and friends while moving toward greater independence.

COMPONENTS OF A MIDDLE SCHOOL 

TEAMING

Interdisciplinary Team Teaching (Teaming) is a way of grouping students and teachers together to form small communities of learning within the school. Teaming is an integral part of the Middle School concept. For example, currently the sixth grade is divided into two teams: Tamarins and Ocelots. Students on each team have the same core teachers in all academic subjects. Each team of teachers works very closely together to plan academic units, special events/activities, and overall goals and objectives. Each team of teachers shares a Team Planning Time which is one period per day.

HOW WILL TEAMING BENEFIT ME AS A PARENT?

Teaming will benefit parents in several ways. We hope you, the parent, will take full advantage of the opportunities teaming gives you:

  • Parent/Team conferences offer you a time to meet with your child's teachers as a scheduled part of your child's day.

  • Student Progress can be provided in a more timely manner.

  • One call to school can get you a more complete picture of your child's progress.

Teaming is designed to promote connectedness for teachers, students, and parents. The key is for you, the parent, to see yourself as part of the team. 

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING 

Not all classes may be the same length or at the same time each day. This means that teachers can change the length of a class to accommodate longer tests, projects, or activities. 

SERVICE PROJECTS 

Each semester a service project is developed to encourage the students to look beyond themselves. Service project activities are coordinated through Team Planning Time. Students realize they too can have an impact in our school, community, and world through the service projects.

PBIS (POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORT)

Student behavior and good study habits are important factors in the middle school. The MMS faculty put an emphasis on teaching students to be respectful and responsible. These expectations are taught within the weekly advisory program. To promote an increase in these positive behaviors, incentives are planned throughout the school year. Students have enjoyed incentives such as a game hour, shakes, a movie with popcorn, and the Student of the Month Assembly. 

INTERDISCIPLINARY UNITS 

Connecting subject areas is an important component of middle school. The teams of teachers combine their subjects around a common theme. These connections tie academic goals across the subject areas and reveal the interconnectedness of knowledge. 

COMMUNICATION

Agenda

An agenda book will be available to any student that wishes to use one.

Website & App

Our website and App have a plethora of information. You can find homework assignments, lunch menus, activity schedules for clubs and sports, due dates for athletic paperwork, and lots of other important information.

Newsletter

A monthly newsletter is emailed to all middle school families. Relevant information such as service projects, upcoming events, curriculum reports, team activities, due dates for required athletic paperwork, and other middle school news is included. 

CLASSES

Core

All students have five core academic classes: math, English, reading, science, and social studies.

Exploratory

Exploratory classes are electives that students rotate through to explore a variety of areas. There are Fine Arts classes like Art and Spanish as well as STEM classes like Robotics, Coding, and Flight Science. Out 8th grade electives are semester classes while the 6th and 7th grade classes are quarter classes. Students in the 7th grade can replace the elective classes with Band or Chorus if desired.

Physical Education

Physical education is fitness based interspersed with a variety of activities. Your child will have a PE uniform that is required to be worn daily.

LOCKERS 

All students are assigned a locker with a combination lock on the first day of school. Lockers are to be kept clean and orderly at all times. Regular locker checks and clean-outs are performed to promote neatness and organization. All books and notebooks are kept in lockers not desks. It would be helpful to have a combination lock at home to practice during the summer.