Middle school leaders and students highlight enrichment programs, attendance and discipline gains

Joseph Malolo Middle School staff and students described a roster of after-school and in-class enrichment programs during the East Haven Board of Education meeting, and district administrators reported recent improvements in attendance and discipline tied to the initiatives.

The presentations, led by Darcy Doyan and Nate Tester of JMMS, featured student speakers who summarized activities and learning outcomes from aviation exploration, Educators Rising, mock trial, Future Cities, peer mentoring and National History Day projects. The talks emphasized hands-on learning, career exposure and social-emotional supports.

School leaders said the programs aim to build community and the skills the district calls “habits of success.” Doyan introduced students from multiple clubs and said the goal was to show how programs engage students both inside and outside the classroom. "They know how to engage their students within the classroom but also outside the classroom and provide opportunities that build community," Doyan said.

Students…