Henderson International School hosted a Ramp-Up for current 5th grade Families to highlight the values of a PS-8 program and to discuss our middle school program.
1. HIS Middle School
A Place to Belong
Henderson International School
Parent Ramp-Up Meeting
2. Eighth-grade student’s academic achievement has a
larger impact on their readiness for college by the
end of high school than anything that happens
academically in high school.
- American College Testing (ACT) study The Forgotten Middle
3. HIS has prepared me for transitioning from middle
school to high school. Between my parents and
teachers, I don’t know who motivates me more to
excel and go beyond the bare minimum.
- Excerpt from HIS Class of 2014 Graduation Speech
4. I have been at HIS for eight years. Eight years is a
large chunk of my life. You may be asking yourself,
‘Why did he continue to stay at the same school for
eight years?’ The answer is simple… it was worth it.
The school was worth staying at, because it has
enlightened me, taught me important social skills,
and prepared me for the future.
- Excerpt from HIS Class of 2014 Graduation Speech
5. Adolescence
A time of significant change
• Physical growth
• Intellectual growth
• Curiosity and courage
Adolescent Needs
• Relationships
• Autonomy
• Competence
• Fun
From The Advisory Book
6. Why a PS-8 School?
The Best Schools: How Human Development Research
Should Inform Educational Practice by Thomas Armstrong
Developmentally Inappropriate
Practices
Developmentally Appropriate Practices
Unsafe school climate Safe school climate
Large, impersonal schools Small learning communities
Impersonal adult interactions Personal adult relationships
Emotionally flat learning experiences Emotionally meaningful curriculum
Student voices not heard or respected Honoring and respecting student voices
No significant arts program Expressive arts activities for all students
Total focus on academic learning to the
neglect of social/emotional development
Facilitating social and emotional growth
7. Why a PS-8 School?
Compared to students in stand-alone middle schools,
students in K-8 schools:
• Have higher academic achievement, especially in math
• Participate more in extracurricular activities, demonstrate
greater leadership, and are less likely to be bullied
• Have a significantly higher acceptance rate into the most
challenging high schools
Resources
• Bullying and the middle years: The case for K-8
• Do Middle Schools Make Sense?
• Mayhem in the Middle: Why We Should Shift to K-8
8. Association for Middle Level Education
Essential attributes of effective middle schools
• Developmentally Responsive
• Challenging
• Empowering
• Equitable
From This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents
9. HIS Middle School is…
Developmentally Responsive
• Focus of 5-6 team is transition from elementary
and preparation for middle school
• Focus of 7-8 team is high school preparation
• Circle of Power & Respect
• Independent Study & Feedback
• Freedom & Responsibility
10. HIS Middle School is…
Challenging
• Strong success with HS Placement Test
• All of last year’s graduates are on the Honor Roll
as freshmen at their respective high schools
• Focus of academic program is on higher-order
thinking and application of knowledge
• Standards-based learning highlights individual
strengths and areas of improvement
11. HIS Middle School is…
Empowering
• MS Rights
• Outdoor Education experiences
• Student-led Conferences
• Digital Portfolios
• Academic Self-Reflections
• Presentations of Learning
12. HIS Middle School is…
Equitable
• Differentiating to meet the needs of each
individual
• Well-rounded program that includes Visual &
Performing Arts, Digital Media, Physical
Education and Athletics
• Electives Program
13. This school is like a second home to me, and I love
that Henderson International School gives us a safe
learning environment where we can grow into
brilliant people, and that is all thanks to the teachers I
respect and love with all my heart.
- Excerpt from HIS Class of 2014 Graduation Speech
14. HIS Middle School Team
Josie Cruz – Mathematics
Kevin Cloud – Language Arts
Tanya Yamada - Science
Tim Williams – Social Studies
Rikki Martin – Spanish
Tara Cadena – Donna Raucher – Joe Petrelli –
Krissy Waldman – Jillian Petrelli – Gabe Cadena –
Nick Stamanis – Ali Cohen – Andy Corridori –
Ricardo Baldizan
21. Tim Williams, Social Studies
Areas of Expansion:
• Research Skills
• Presenting Skills
• Primary Documents
• Practical Standards
Continued Focus:
• Guiding Questions Exams
• Mystery Box/Review Game
• Google Classroom
• Use of Multimedia
Adolescence & the first-three years are the times of greatest change
Needs in adolescence are powerful and drive behavior
Research suggests that PS-8 schools are better because
Normalcy and familiarity during a time of great developmental transition
Smaller school and class size (enrollment is spread across grades)
Stronger relationships with teachers
Greater opportunities for leadership and service
Dev Resp: use nature of adolescents as the foundation
Challenging: every student can learn and is held to high expectations
Empowering: provide students with knowledge and skills they need to take control of their lives
Equitable: advocating for every students right to learn and providing relevant opportunities
