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Principals outline new literacy lab, attendance and civic-readiness pilots at middle schools
Summary
Middle school principals Jill Penn and Michael Marrone told the board about a new grades 5–8 literacy lab, continued math lab support, exploratory course offerings, a project-based learning pilot tied to a civic-readiness seal, community-circle attendance initiatives and upcoming All-State performances by district students.
Middle school principals Jill Penn and Michael Marrone presented the board with a detailed academic and student-support update at the Nov. 12 meeting, focusing on literacy, exploratory courses and strategies to re-engage students.
Penn and Marrone said the district introduced a literacy lab this year for grades 5–8 intended to address comprehension and writing gaps that some students bring to middle school. “The addition of the literacy lab this year, grades 5 through 8, is going to hopefully fill that gap,” Penn said, noting the math lab program continues and the principals are looking to expand targeted academic supports for seventh- and eighth-grade students.
The principals also highlighted exploratory experiences — art, music, physical education, computer applications and modern language options (Spanish and French) — and said the district’s middle-level music offerings are strong. They described a pilot of project-based learning that could earn students a point toward a proposed seal of civic readiness; youth bureau students will attend an annual youth leadership summit and present back to the schools.
Attendance and engagement were another focus. Principals described ‘community circles’ and other restorative practices used to address absenteeism and connect students to caring adults. Penn gave examples of small-group interventions led by guidance staff and said the district’s recognition programs (character awards, ‘gotcha’ passes) have supported positive culture.
Students participated in a short ‘Let’s Show’ portion of the presentation; one student moderator, Ashton Goodman, asked peers about their experiences and what they look forward to at school. Administrators said parents and staff were providing feedback on a less formal open-house format meant to increase family attendance and communication.
Why it matters: the initiatives target core academic skills and student engagement at a formative stage. The literacy lab and attendance strategies are intended to reduce later high-school remediation needs and improve outcomes.
Next steps: principals said they will continue to pilot project-based learning and expand targeted academic supports; the board thanked staff and asked for ongoing updates.
