Spring Observer - News
New middle school of choice to offer specialized learning
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| Students experience software used for crime scene investigation at the middle school of choice focus group session held in the SMART Center at Carl Wunsche Sr. High School. A sampling of Spring ISD students who will be eligible to apply for the new middle school of choice and their parents participated in sessions that were used to gather input from the community regarding the school. |
By KEVIN KOLOIAN
Slated to open in August 2009 Spring Independent School District’s seventh middle school will be quite different than the others.
The school of choice will implement a non-traditional curriculum that focuses on math, science and fine arts.
Housed on the old Westfield Ninth Grade Center campus, certain building renovations are required to accommodate the specialized classes.
“By design this school is going to be different,” said Thad Gittens, principal. “It has been designed to serve students who have a strong interest in math, science and fine arts.”
Offering an integrated math and science curriculum that will engage students in hands-on learning, the school will help students better understand math and science concepts as they apply to real life.
The program is geared toward offering more than education, but career readiness as well by preparing students for an expanding job market in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics career fields.
“We wanted to cater to students’ interests,” Gittens said. “We gathered data through various filters, such as fourth- through eighth-grade students, teachers, district administrators and school administrators to ascertain what interests them to keep them actively engaged, keep them focused and augment their achievement in these particular courses.”
Extracurricular activities will also be unique. The school’s fine arts component will offer non-traditional learning opportunities in music, art, theater and dance.
The music program will teach piano, guitar and music technology instead of band and choir.
In art classes students will learn about two-dimensional and three-dimensional design, photography, sculpture and pottery.
Going beyond the introductory level traditionally offered at middle school, students in the theater arts program can take part in dance classes that range from ballet to hip hop.
Career and technical education electives will include forensic science, medical science, robotics, rocketry, web design and animation.
Even the physical education program will stray from the norm by offering racquet sports, aerobics, weight lifting, team building activities and outdoor recreation sports for sixth-graders.
Seventh- and eighth-graders can take semester-long classes in soccer, swimming, tennis, baseball, softball and golf. These classes are intended to help students prepare for University Interscholastic League competitions when they move on to the high school level.
With a total enrollment capacity of 1,200 students, all Spring ISD students who are currently enrolled in fifth through seventh grades are eligible to apply.
Applications will be made available at students’ home campuses in January and will be accepted until mid-February. Students will be randomly selected from the applications that are submitted.
Presentations have been scheduled at campuses across the district during December and January for students and parents who are interested in learning more about the school.
Upcoming school of choice presentations
Dec. 11, 6-7 p.m., Booker Elementary
Dec. 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Winship Elementary
Dec. 17, 7-8 p.m., Salyers Elementary
Dec. 18 7-8 p.m., Smith Elementary
Letters will be sent home with students to let parents know when and where additional presentations will be made.
The school of choice will implement a non-traditional curriculum that focuses on math, science and fine arts.
Housed on the old Westfield Ninth Grade Center campus, certain building renovations are required to accommodate the specialized classes.
“By design this school is going to be different,” said Thad Gittens, principal. “It has been designed to serve students who have a strong interest in math, science and fine arts.”
Offering an integrated math and science curriculum that will engage students in hands-on learning, the school will help students better understand math and science concepts as they apply to real life.
The program is geared toward offering more than education, but career readiness as well by preparing students for an expanding job market in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics career fields.
“We wanted to cater to students’ interests,” Gittens said. “We gathered data through various filters, such as fourth- through eighth-grade students, teachers, district administrators and school administrators to ascertain what interests them to keep them actively engaged, keep them focused and augment their achievement in these particular courses.”
Extracurricular activities will also be unique. The school’s fine arts component will offer non-traditional learning opportunities in music, art, theater and dance.
The music program will teach piano, guitar and music technology instead of band and choir.
In art classes students will learn about two-dimensional and three-dimensional design, photography, sculpture and pottery.
Going beyond the introductory level traditionally offered at middle school, students in the theater arts program can take part in dance classes that range from ballet to hip hop.
Career and technical education electives will include forensic science, medical science, robotics, rocketry, web design and animation.
Even the physical education program will stray from the norm by offering racquet sports, aerobics, weight lifting, team building activities and outdoor recreation sports for sixth-graders.
Seventh- and eighth-graders can take semester-long classes in soccer, swimming, tennis, baseball, softball and golf. These classes are intended to help students prepare for University Interscholastic League competitions when they move on to the high school level.
With a total enrollment capacity of 1,200 students, all Spring ISD students who are currently enrolled in fifth through seventh grades are eligible to apply.
Applications will be made available at students’ home campuses in January and will be accepted until mid-February. Students will be randomly selected from the applications that are submitted.
Presentations have been scheduled at campuses across the district during December and January for students and parents who are interested in learning more about the school.
Upcoming school of choice presentations
Dec. 11, 6-7 p.m., Booker Elementary
Dec. 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Winship Elementary
Dec. 17, 7-8 p.m., Salyers Elementary
Dec. 18 7-8 p.m., Smith Elementary
Letters will be sent home with students to let parents know when and where additional presentations will be made.
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