Perspectives and Observations

County Administration planned appropriately and executed responsively and flexibly.

Middle School Administration was sensitive to the developmental and behavioral differences in age and preempted considerations accordingly.

Athletics have seamlessly adjusted to the presence of non-competing sixth grade students.

Transportation handled all challenges smoothly.

Teachers have adjusted to changing staff as well as the changing age of students.

• Counselors at both East and West hosted tour groups from Elementary Schools to introduce them to the opportunities ahead of them.

• At the Middle Schools they were introduced to the rules and procedures.

• Tour groups were mostly guided by trained seventh and eighth grade student leaders.

• Exceptional Education – Mrs. Overbee, of Old Fort Elementary, remarked that her two students moving up to Middle School this year visited the Middle Schools individually and, by the end were excited, asking questions, and following teachers around.

• Presenting updated route information to parents at 'open house' to prevent confusion due to route changes.

• All bus routes were modified due to placing sixth graders on secondary buses, and reduced bus loads at the elementary schools.  We were concerned about having to place additional buses into service, but were able to accomplish this change with the same 65 bus fleet we operated for Jr. High by taking six buses from various elementary schools and routing them into service at the secondary level.

• Some parents were concerned about their sixth grade student being transported on buses with high school students.

• Ridership was comparable to previous years.• Students were not picked up before 6 AM.• Congestion at McDowell High and West Middle was addressed during the first

weeks of school.

• The new traffic pattern was modified and adjusted slightly in the first couple of weeks which was a very visible process to the staff of WMMS and MHS.

• Ron King, who does traffic at WMMS, commented that concerns and ideas which were communicated to the administration were quickly addressed and resolved. He attributes a large part of this success to the banning of left turns out of both schools during the afternoon rush.

• Mr. King also believes that encouraging parents to hold off on their arrivals until after 3 PM will help alleviate the initial afternoon congestion on 70.

• “The benefits of 6th grade managers allows them an extra year of experience with the sport they are helping.  Many times the managers can do the skill drills like the rest of the athletes.  They just aren't allowed to participate against the 7th and 8th grade athletes.”

• “There is a huge difference developmentally between a 6th grader and an 8th grader.”

“The transition went well for CTE.  Teachers had to adjust to teaching a younger population (6th grade).  The positive side to this is students are exposed to CTE at an earlier age and have more time to explore career/college decisions.”  

“Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a proactive approach to establishing the behavioral supports and social culture needed for all students in a school to achieve social, emotional and academic success.” 

-www.sjusd.org

“I loved the PBIS model -- made our students try harder -- my kids loved getting Spartan tickets...”

-Stephanie FawWMMS Athletics Coordinator 

When presented with the adapted schedule required for afternoon transportation East Middle took the opportunity to implement an afternoon Club Time.

During this time, the students participated in unique student inspired, teacher monitored activities. This has been a significant factor in student buy-in.

“Club time was great, because it gave the students another chance to explore. They were able to pick something that interested them and pursue it.”

-Chris Wilson, EMMS Band

 As a band director, I am excited to have my music students starting the same year as most of Western North Carolina's school band programs.  In the past, our musicians have had to compete consistently with students one full year of experience ahead of them.  After this year, our students will be competing on level with other schools.

Chris Wilson (East Band Director) and I, however, recruited two beginning classes of students each, then had to differentiate between the skills progressions of sixth and seventh grade beginner students.  It has been a fun learning experience for both of us.

Jenny Lanier (MHS Band) now has one of the largest competition marching bands in the State of North Carolina.

In speaking with Nurse Gail Ellis (EMMS) I learned that students must pass immunization checkpoints at Kindergarten and sixth grade. This means that she and Nurse McEntire (WMMS) are responsible for maintaining and updating records and for contacting parents to ensure students are properly immunized prior to starting at either middle school.

Nurse Ellis also restated something I’ve heard from many middle school staff, which is that the sixth grade students are simply much younger and earlier in their development.

• Most elementary schools saw a significantly lower enrollment due to losing a grade, while a couple schools, like Pleasant Gardens, saw a massive Kindergarten intake and maintained numbers.

• The majority of elementary schools which saw a lower enrollment have undedicated classrooms which have been repurposed for much needed storage, tutoring and remediation space, or simply as multifunction spaces.

• Many positions were moved to accommodate for the grade level changes. Although this must have been a daunting task, I have not heard anything but positive remarks from staff across the county about the administration’s handling of this.

• County administration was sensitive to the needs of relocating staff and school administrations were welcoming and thankful to bring in qualified, caring new staff.

Almost every middle school staff member with whom I have spoken mentioned the old disconnect between eighth and ninth grade and how the middle school model places a much more relatable group of children in the same student body.

• The transition took place so smoothly that it is hard to believe we are just one year removed from the big move.

• Feedback from sixth grade students and parents regarding the middle school model has been overwhelmingly positive.

• Middle school administrators and teachers have shared with him that the 6-8 model just feels like it fits better than the 7-9 junior high model.

• Planning for a year where every bus route changes and every school in the district but one either gains or loses a grade level different from the previous year is hopefully a once in a career experience.

• Our staff members did a great job moving to new buildings and integrating into new environments for the benefit of students.

McDowell’s highly qualified and motivated administrations and staff worked hard and smart to ensure a smooth transition.