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East Middle School spotlights student experience, Eagle Bluff trip and instructional priorities
Summary
East Middle School presented initiatives to improve student well‑being and learning—highlighting an Eagle Bluff outdoor experience, a student survey focus on happiness, literacy work, PLCs and classroom action research.
Principal Meg Bennett and East Middle School staff briefed the Wayzata Public Schools Board on Oct. 13, outlining steps to improve daily student experience and academic outcomes.
The presentation highlighted three priorities: literacy (including a schoolwide vocabulary plan and tier‑3 reading intervention), strengthened professional learning communities (PLCs) that use common data to inform instruction, and programs to improve student well‑being and belonging. Bennett said East formed a student leadership team of about 75 students to help set goals and measure progress.
Staff described a reintroduced outdoor/environmental experience at Eagle Bluff (presented as a reimagined successor to Wolf Ridge). Teachers Christian Beharin and Kevin Pote said the trip emphasizes bravery, empathy and teamwork and that staff see the experiential lessons carry back to the classroom. The Wayzata Education Fund’s chair, Sarah Griffin, described the fund’s partnership to finance the reintroduced trip and to expand support for student well‑being across the district.
Teachers also described classroom changes prompted by student feedback: schedule adjustments that increased block time for electives such as musical theater and forensics, reduced reliance on iPads in some classes, and the adoption of teacher‑led, small‑group interventions during class. Eighth‑grade teacher Matt Stika said his action‑research project on small‑group intervention improved student confidence and participation and showed measurable gains on assessments in his classes.
Students also spoke. Eighth‑grader Ella Bedard told the board the school heard student feedback about screen time and scheduling and has responded by adjusting course offerings and reducing some device use during the school day. Bennett said East will administer the student experience survey again in November for a baseline and in May for progress reporting.
Why it matters: The district cited student well‑being and instructional fidelity as priorities. The Eagle Bluff and Wolf Ridge references point to a restored emphasis on outdoor environmental learning as an element of middle‑school development and social‑emotional learning.
What the board asked: Board members praised the partnership with the Wayzata Education Fund and asked for context on how Wolf Ridge related to Eagle Bluff; staff said Wolf Ridge was discontinued during COVID and Eagle Bluff was selected as a logistical re‑start. The board also asked about the literacy vocabulary work; staff said literacy specialists will guide teams and that “high‑leverage” academic vocabulary is the focus.
Next steps: East will collect survey data in November and again in May; staff said they will continue to refine vocabulary instruction and PLC work and to expand action research practices across the building.
