MMS Orientation pp 2016 17

Home of the Explorers

Scofield Magnet Middle School

Scott Clayton – Principal

Donna Gardner – Assistant Principal

James Forde – Administrative Intern

Betsy Benenson – Guidance Counselor

Je-Nean Fox – Guidance Counselor

Our Mission Statement…

Scofield Magnet Middle School respects the unique

characteristics and individuality of emerging adolescents.

Our staff, in partnership with parents and students, strives to

develop independent and responsible learners in both

heterogeneous and homogeneous groupings. Through our

unique school culture, we address the physical, social, and

emotional needs that further intellectual development.

While using an interdisciplinary approach to learning,

special emphasis is placed on math, science, and technology.

The school is strongly committed to implementing the

principles of the Carnegie Foundation Report and the

Coalition of Essential Schools.

“Diversity in the classroom is just as

important to society as learning about

computers. It is vital that students

understand how both technology and

cultural diversity contribute to

society as a whole.”

Dr. Karley Meltzer, 1994

Scofield Information…

Lottery – Student acceptance is based on an economically

advantaged and disadvantaged selection.

Curriculum – Scofield teaches the honors curriculum. We

do not track or level students.

Groupings – Students are group heterogeneously for every

class except eighth grade math and Spanish. In these classes,

students are homogeneously grouped based on district

criteria.

Special Education – Scofield’s special education teachers

practice the push-in/full inclusion model. Resource time may

be offered to special education students during Exploratory

time if deemed necessary.

Grade Level Teams…

Grades 6–8

• Each grade is divided into two teams of approximately

100 students.

• The teams are made up of five academic teachers which

include:

• Science

• Math

• Language Arts

• Social Studies

• Art/Technology (split 50/50 for the year)

• Scratch, Star Logo, Photoshop, Indesign, 3d

Printing

• Heterogeneous grouping/Flexible Scheduling

• Remain together for three years

Advisory…

• The academic, team teachers also serve as advisory

teachers. Students have advisory every morning for 30

minutes.

• The purpose of advisory is provide students an

opportunity to establish a healthy adult connection with

one particular teacher in a small group setting. The

advisory teacher is also the primary parent resource.

• Themes vary per grade level

Academic Schedules & Groupings…

• Block scheduling-We do not have any Bells!

• Academic class time and frequency is determined by

each team

• Times and frequency change throughout the year to

support Scofield’s interdisciplinary approach.

• Daily Common Planning time for all teachers

• Teams determine the makeup of the heterogeneous class

groups and throughout the year, rearrange those groups

so that they too, better support interdisciplinary learning.

Exploratories…

• Exploratories at Scofield follow a block schedule. Each

block of time is 45 minutes long. Every grade has two

different Exploratory classes a day. Exploratory classes

can be either year or semester long.

• Exploratories – Physical Education, Global Information

Systems (GIS), Study Island, Music, Chorus and Band.

• Classes are mixed across teams

Exploratories Continued…

• Spanish –

• Daily to about 60% of students.

• Three successful years, students eligible for Spanish

3 in 9th grade and AP Spanish in 10th .

• Academic Enrichment & Interventions

• offered in lieu of Spanish class

• Math and Reading support

• Need based on past and present individual,

academic student standings – what is best for the

student.

Tech Lab 1Global Information Systems

• GIS- Using daily current events heterogeneously grouped students are able to see the importance of geography to world concerns as well as develop relationships to their other subjects.

• Students use Google Earth Pro and ArcMap 10.2 to gather data from various sources and analyze the results using higher level critical thinking

Tech Lab 2Art Technology

• To create original design work and presentations

– Adobe Photoshop

– Illustrator and InDesign

– Google Slides

• Emphasis is on visual communication principles and visual presentation including:

– page layout, typography, color theory, navigation, image creation and editing.

• Students apply the Elements and Principles of Design, and complete written and verbal reflections of work.

Tech Lab 3Math Tech

• Various computer programs general graphic design with: – Adobe Photoshop

– Adobe Illustrator and

– Adobe InDesign to create.

• Microsoft Word for information collecting and

• Microsoft Publisher to create digital citizenship posters. All students use

• Google – Docs

– Slides

– Photos

Tech Lab 4 Academic Tech

• Support, enrich and remediate math skills necessary for success in core math classes through the use of Khan Academy.

• Support, enrich and remediate math skills to create a solid background for future success in math through the use of Khan Academy.

• Become familiar solving math problems in a Smarter Balanced Assessment style environment to improve performance on

standardized tests.

6th Grade

Advisory 8:00-8:30

Team Class 8:30-11:00

Lunch (W/G) 11:00-11:25


Lunch (T)

Exploratory

11:30-11:55

1:00-2:30

Advisory 2:30-2:40

7th Grade

Advisory 8:00-8:30

Exploratory 8:30-10:00


Lunch 12:45-1:10


Advisory 2:30-2:40

8th Grade

Advisory 8:00-8:30


Exploratory 10:45-12:15

Lunch 12:15-12:40


Advisory 2:30-2:40

Extracurricular Activities…

• Intramural Sports - Meet after school and include a

variety of activities for all students.

• Scofield Sports Teams - Basketball, Softball, Baseball

and Cross & Country.

• Stamford Youth Sports - Wrestling and Football.

• Jazz Band

• Musicals/Concerts

• Academic Clubs - Math Team, Lego Robotics, Inventors

Club, STEAM Club, Technology Club, Yearbook, Student

Government, CPEP and Homework Club.

School Instructional FocusAuthentic Student Engagement-what does it look like?

– Using content language

– Higher order questions

– Peers helping peers

– Laughter

– Students staying after class

– Low disciplinary #’s

– Interdisciplinary connections

– Students debating

– “Cold Calls”

2015 Science CMT’s

Grade 8 2015 Science CMT’s

State: 61.1% goal 76.7% proficient

Stamford: 49.2 69.6

Scofield: 64.2 86.3

Grade 5 2015 Science CMT’s

State: 55.5 79.2

Stamford: 49 73.5

Scofield: 76.3 95

2016 Midterms

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

SMMSELA

DistELA

SMMSMath

DistMath

SMMSSci

Dist Sci SMMSSS

Dist SS SMMSAlg

DistAlg

8th Grade Capstone

Exhibition –

• Is a mandatory graduation requirement for all Scofield

students.

• The project focuses on Technology.

• There are four components:

• Project Process

• Written Research Paper

• Oral Presentation

• Creative and Visual Components

• Annual Potluck Supper – An informational meeting for

parents with a thorough breakdown of the entire project.

• Presentations are typically at the end of May, early June.

• Counts for 20% of Fourth Quarter Grade

Accolades…

New England League of Middle Schools

Spotlight School for Effective Middle Level Practices

CT Association of Schools

Exemplary Teaming Practices

Chinese Sister School

Shandong University

Hosted 3 visits of 15-20 teachers/students

Sent 2 teachers in 2011 and 3 teachers in 2012

CT State Dept. of Education

“High-Needs” students out perform state averages.

Hewlett Packard Innovations in Education Grant

$265,000 awarded to Scofield

Thank You and Please visit us at…

http://www.magnetmiddle.org/

@ScofieldMagnet

http://www.magnetmiddle.org/