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AMLE presentation "Middle School: A Place to Belong and Become"

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"Middle School:  A Place to Belong and Become" was presented at AMLE by Dr. Laurie Barron, principal,  and Superintendent Patti Kinney.  I LOVED THIS PRESENTATION!!

Some thoughts presented:  (Many things we already knew but some new thoughts)
. Effective middle schools are where students feel they belong, are safe, respected and valued.
. The foundations of middle school have to be strong.
. We need to educate the whole child....physical, social and emotional.
. The first biggest growth spurt in a child's life is birth to two years of age.  The second biggest spurt and most critical time of development is ages 11-14....our middle school kiddos!
. We need to focus on the outcome, not the structure.
. Remember students are stakeholders too.  Involve them and seek their input.  i.e., designing a playground.
. The first day of school:  don't focus on rules and consequences.  Instead, make the first day AWESOME!

Some ideas presented to make middle school a place to belong and become:
1) Make a list of students in school.  Ask staff to identify with "asterict" and "check" those students who teachers know and have recognized.  Then, focus on those students without any astericts or checks.
2) Postcards to kiddos.
3) Postcards to parents.
4) Principal/Students Leadership Conference (made up of 10 students from each grade level....5 good leaders and 5 not-so-good leaders--those with behavior problems).  Meet once a month.  The "good" leaders" will provide the negative leaders with positive ways to lead.  We have to give negative leadership a positive place to lead!!!
5) Celebrations of any kind:
     - 6 local restaurants donate 4 lunches every 6 weeks, 2 student tickets are drawn from a jug.  Each student invites an adult to go to the restaurant with them.
     - Bulletin board "Look what they're doing now" - celebration of accomplishments of former students.
     - "Hall of Fame"for current students.

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