Ms. Montgomery is working on a master calendar of currently scheduled meetings with families and will get it to us at the beginning of next week to post. We know from a meeting she had with a group of Sacajawea families last week that she is planning multiple appearances at PTA meetings and with kids at Eckstein and Hamilton who will be geo-split away to JAMS to get their perspectives. Definitely watch for that master calendar and take advantage of the chance to get to know her and ask her questions.
Here are Ms. Montgomery's "quick big answers" to questions posed on the blog.
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1. Yes, JAMS will have Algebra 2 next year. It looks as if we may have enough qualified students for two sections.
If you're interested in providing some design help, Ms. Montgomery can be reached at p l mont gomery at seattle schools dot org. [remove all spaces, replace words with symbols.]
2. Geometry and Algebra 1, no problem. Plenty of sections.
3. Yes, for band and orchestra program. Just added a second music room to the plans for Phase 2 (summer 2014). The number of sections/levels will be driven by student needs. Both Hamilton and Eckstein band directors are involved in planning.
4. Working on initial instrument and library inventory with district.
5. Yes to foreign languages, starting for 6th graders. At this point, I can say absolutely Spanish and Japanese due in large part to preparing students for high school. I will need to see the number of current 6th graders in French before making a decision.
6. Spent day at Garfield, learning what needs to happen in APP at the middle level for students to be successful in 9th grade. Plan to visit Ingraham as well.
7. Yes to biology. Hoping to pull off science electives as well. Our school site is an amazing resource for environmental sciences. In conversation with science leaders in the district to develop possibilities.
8. Teacher leader positions are now posted! An all Seattle district email should be sent out next week, alerting teachers about the opportunity. Hope to have interviews in late December. May have to interview in early January given how busy December is . These leaders should be on board by mid-January.
9. Other programming decisions are waiting for 1) student data review, 2) teacher leader input, 3) student input, and 4) parent input.
And now I have a BIG ask. If anyone out there is able/willing to do pro-bono work on logo design. I would love to connect. Our BEX levy is really covering academic spaces and curriculum and this is an area that has not been addressed. Would love to use the expertise of a professional to start designing logo/mascot possibilities and have our future JAMS students select the mascot/colors/etc prior to February. The architect for the project then can include these elements into finishes for our school.
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3. Yes, for band and orchestra program. Just added a second music room to the plans for Phase 2 (summer 2014). The number of sections/levels will be driven by student needs. Both Hamilton and Eckstein band directors are involved in planning.
4. Working on initial instrument and library inventory with district.
5. Yes to foreign languages, starting for 6th graders. At this point, I can say absolutely Spanish and Japanese due in large part to preparing students for high school. I will need to see the number of current 6th graders in French before making a decision.
6. Spent day at Garfield, learning what needs to happen in APP at the middle level for students to be successful in 9th grade. Plan to visit Ingraham as well.
7. Yes to biology. Hoping to pull off science electives as well. Our school site is an amazing resource for environmental sciences. In conversation with science leaders in the district to develop possibilities.
8. Teacher leader positions are now posted! An all Seattle district email should be sent out next week, alerting teachers about the opportunity. Hope to have interviews in late December. May have to interview in early January given how busy December is . These leaders should be on board by mid-January.
9. Other programming decisions are waiting for 1) student data review, 2) teacher leader input, 3) student input, and 4) parent input.
And now I have a BIG ask. If anyone out there is able/willing to do pro-bono work on logo design. I would love to connect. Our BEX levy is really covering academic spaces and curriculum and this is an area that has not been addressed. Would love to use the expertise of a professional to start designing logo/mascot possibilities and have our future JAMS students select the mascot/colors/etc prior to February. The architect for the project then can include these elements into finishes for our school.
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If you're interested in providing some design help, Ms. Montgomery can be reached at p l mont gomery at seattle schools dot org. [remove all spaces, replace words with symbols.]
Also, information that Ms. Montgomery passed on from Tracy Libros in response to the questions raised by maps of the JAMS, Eckstein and Hamilton attendance areas: they are working on "enlarged (and therefore more detailed) maps of the middle school attendance areas for JAMS, Eckstein, and Hamilton." Dr. Libros provides this info for families: "For specific information on where your child will be assigned for next year (2014-15), please go to the Address Lookup Tool on the district’s web site. We are in the process of updating that information for 2014-15 to reflect changes approved by the School Board. We expect to have the updated information posted the week after the Thanksgiving break."
Now a request from us to you: please share the address of this blog with people you know. The more community involvement, the better it will be. Thanks.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone!
Thanks Paula! I have shared this on a FB community. Please keep us updated, and let us know how we can help. Unfortunately, graphic design is not my area of expertise...
ReplyDeleteis there a face book account forJAMS or JAMS PTA
DeleteWhat is the mascot going to be? Would be nice to have kid input. Do we have to be JAMS? Three schools with Addams/Adams in their name might be confusing (I worked at JA k-8 and there were often bus issues with field trips with the busses at Adams
ReplyDeleteAs an APP parent whose child will probably be at JAMS, I am excited to become a part of this community ( I think, the boundary map is a little unclear). I am looking forward to working together to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible and the kids all feel like part of one whole instead of isolated little groups! Let me know what I can do to help out!
ReplyDeleteI think it's a great idea to get the colors and mascot figured out early! Along those lines, I'm hopeful that the after-school sports can be fully ready to go in the fall. My son (coming from Hamilton to 8th grade) would love to play on the Ultimate team. My impression is that Ultimate is popular at all the middle schools, readily accommodates newcomers and could make good use of all those fields around JAMS.
DeleteCan someone give me current info about the Ultimate team? I was getting emails about the Summer JAMS practices. Now, nothing. Has the 2014-15 team formed? Are they practicing yet? Thanks!
DeleteWhile I can't help out on designing the logo, I'm happy to help putting together the JAMS web page. I've worked on a couple of school sites (learning how to use the Fusion web program from SPS) and am happy to set up JAMS'. The sooner the better would be nice, then we can point families to the website for information.
ReplyDeleteYay, Lisa!!!
DeleteLooking forward to meeting Paula. My son suggests the JAMS Seahawks, keeping with the middle school bird theme... He thinks everyone will want to attend a school with a Seahawk mascot.
ReplyDeleteI love that! And I agree!
DeleteSo, I think it's the Eckstein Eagles and Hamilton Hawks? So, alliteration seems to be a theme, too. I think Seahawks is too close to Hawks and since suggestion are being thrown, my son suggested the Jaguars. Not a bird, I know. Love hearing all the suggestions and the dialogue!
ReplyDeleteKristen
My daughter also gives a vote for Jaguars.
ReplyDeletemy son also vote for jaguars.(ROAR)
DeleteJAMS Jabiru? It's a stork found in the Americas.
ReplyDelete-- RR
Meant to add that Jaguar is the mascot for Meany Middle School.
ReplyDelete-- RR
Jackals?
ReplyDeleteAs long as we are being alliterative--Jets? :) A tip of the cap to the aerospace industry in the area as well.
ReplyDeleteLisa
Is it for certain that we will be JAMS? Or is there a thought to have the jane Addams go with the K-8 and the MS would get a new name?
ReplyDeleteThere ought to be computer programming classes offered starting in middle school and continuing through high school. Learning to program teaches a variety of skills including critical thinking, logic, mathematics, and problem solving. The entire internet (this blog, Google, facebook, and every other website you've ever visited) runs on code. Your phone runs on code. Your television runs on code. The applications we all use and the games we play run on code.
ReplyDeleteWhat's nice about programming is that anyone can learn to do it. It's not something you need to study for many months for it to be useful. Within a couple hours, students can write simple programs. It's challenging and fun, and you can write software to do whatever you can imagine. There's nothing wrong with the traditional courses, but are subjects like biology, french or band really more useful than programming which is an actual skill you can list on a resume?
Personally I went through middle school, high school, and graduated from a somewhat prestigious liberal arts college with a double major in economics and mathematics. I received a good education, but you know what? I graduated virtually no specific job skills. The only marketable skill I had was programming...which I had taught myself starting when I was 12.
that's very good idea. basically seattle is all about hitech.
Delete