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JD middle-school staff describe expanded recess, arts participation and new wellness curriculum
Summary
At the April 6 board meeting, middle-school leaders described operational changes — longer lunches and recess, added supervision and flexible exploratory classes — and demonstrated a health/wellness curriculum (mindfulness, breathing tools) they say is increasing student engagement and arts participation.
At the April 6 Jamesville-DeWitt Board of Education meeting, Mr. Aldridge presented a snapshot of changes at the middle school, emphasizing longer lunch and recess periods, increased supervision and new flexible instructional spaces tied to the building project. "25% of our student body participates in orchestra. Almost 30% of our student body participates in band," Aldridge said as evidence of strong extracurricular engagement and student buy-in.
Aldridge and health teachers Patty Ferris and Audra Shakespeare described a multi-year rollout of a health and wellness curriculum, begun through grant-supported training in 2022 and expanded across grade levels. Ferris told the board teachers will receive common-language posters and in-service training so students encounter the same tools beyond health class. "We started this year teaching our JD Middle School staff some of our acronyms... we're going to put these posters and these reminders around the school so that the kids see it," Ferris said.
Staff and students demonstrated classroom techniques during the meeting. Audra Shakespeare explained the "Yeti body" posture and breathing strategies; 5th-grade student Anna Claire Atwater demonstrated a braided "breathing stick" and said she uses it to refocus during tests and after games. "I literally take it everywhere, and then just go out and, just use it," Anna Claire said. Teachers said staff have observed students using the tools in hallways and classrooms, and that expanding the curriculum from 5th through 8th grade has helped younger students internalize the language and skills over time.
Board members thanked the presenters and recognized the value of combining social-emotional learning with expanded arts and extracurricular offerings as part of the district's middle-school experience.
