Welcome! We have an amazing opportunity here to plan our kids' middle school. Please comment below about what you most want to see in programming, culture, etc. Or email us at janeaddamsmsblog@gmail.com. We will put up regular posts bringing in your suggestions, for the community to discuss.
Each post here will have one or more tags that help us sort out what we all think is most important for JAMS. The more times a tag is used, the bigger the tag label appears in the tag cloud. Visual voting, essentially!
Please also watch this space for updates on JAMS and information on community engagement.
Edited to add: You're welcome to comment anonymously, but please sign your comment with a posting name of some kind (e.g., initials or alias) to facilitate conversation within the threads, and also so we can begin to build a feeling of community here.
There is also a FB page set up for Jane Addams families at https://www.facebook.com/groups/671172192922331/
ReplyDeleteCan we begin with no Discovery Math? Are we allowed to look into and implement a better math curriculum than the one pusheded by SPS?
ReplyDeleteHi! There is a rumor going around that the APP program at JAMS is intended to be blended, instead of self contained partially like at Hamilton and Washington. Can anyone in charge say if this is true or not?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Prospective Parent
I would like to see foreign languages offered, as well as a music program, and a strong science & technology emphasis.
ReplyDeleteIs there a way to get parent involvement in helping the Principal Paula Montgomery, to help ease the opening of a "new" middle school?
Prospective Parents
prospective parent, can you tell me where you heard this from? I know that they doing blended APP in West Seattle Fairmont(?) elementary because it is such a small group but I haven't heard anything like that for middle schools.
ReplyDeleteSince 8th graders are going to be assigned here next year, having to leave their current schools, there needs to be good planning around special 8th grade events, similar to those at other middle schools. This may seem trivial, but I think it will be important to these kids. Knowing that they will still have special end-of-the-year events will help these 8th graders deal with the transition and loss of their old schools and the friends they had to leave behind. It will be harder to get this set up for the first year, vs. continuing a tradition, but I think it's important.
ReplyDeleteMomof2
Thank you for setting up a non-Facebook site for info. It is much appreciated.
ReplyDelete-6th grade parent
If anyone is interested, the info concerning the plans for the repurposing of the Jane Addams Middle School back to a comprehensive middle school are posted here, along with some background information about Principal Montgomery:
ReplyDeletehttp://bex.seattleschools.org/bex-iv/jane-addams-middle-school/
- KM
From a report about a meeting Paula Montgomery had with John Rogers, that classes will be ability based without regard to label. I am hoping it is just a rumor, but would like to know either way for our own decision making purposes!
ReplyDeleteProspective Parent
The way I understand it from parents at Hamilton is that APP is only self-contained for a few classes, like science and language arts. Math is ability-based, but classes like algebra tend to have lots of APP kids in them because that's what they are ready for by 6th or 7th grade. I'm not stressed over rumors that things will be "blended" and not sure where that started from. I think it will operate much like Hamilton does, assuming there are enough APP kids at each grade level to make the staffing work.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious how languages will be handled with kids coming in from Eckstein and Hamilton, which have slightly different offerings. Both have Spanish and Japanese, but only Eckstein has French. Seems those kids already studying French should be able to continue, but will there be enough to support a teacher? I hope this an area where the district can provide mitigation funds. That is, even if it's only a handful of kids, and such a low number generally wouldn't justify a position, they'll make a "hardship" exception so children can continue their chosen language. A school with 700 kids probably wouldn't normally offer 3 different languages, but this one should have to, given the circumstances.
I'm a Hamilton parent currently, and you are right. I didn't mean to give the impression the kids are cloistered all day. :) But those few classes are important to me for reasons specific to my child, as I consider whether the cohort will be strong and stable enough and worth the move, or whether we should go back to our neighborhood school, Eckstein.
ReplyDeleteProspective Parent
Ditto on the thanks for NOT hosting this on Facebook. This should be as open and accessible as possible, and while this might come across as negative, I hope the Facebook page is not used AT ALL, because it will only cause confusion as to what information is available where.
ReplyDeleteAs for the topic(s) at hand, this JAMS start is going to be extremely difficult. No, ProspectiveParent the core APP classes cannot be "blended", as the very definition of APP is self-contained core classes, though I have heard similar rumors. Unfortunately, Ms. Montgomery is currently of the "APP kids are just like any other kids, they get math, science..." mindset, which could easily lead to poor program implementation and fidelity. Hopefully she's a fast learner!
Due to the much lower number of APP kids (also, how many GenEd kids are expected now, with this final plan voted in last night?), scheduling is going to be problematic. Hamilton's schedule is primarily driven around Band and Orchestra, because there is only one section of each class level. JAMS will certainly have less bands/orchestras, but also less students who will be taking advanced math (Alg2 in 8th, for example), APP science, language and other classes. When you only have one or two sections of each of these classes, it means kids will very likely be closed out of classes they would have easily taken at Hamilton. These are crucial issues that need to start being looked at in-depth ASAP!
Replying to my own comment above, to clarify the "just like any other kids" comment.
DeleteAPP kids do not deserve any more (or any less) than any other student. But they do deserve to have qualified teachers with experience (or credentials) teaching highly gifted or advanced learners. To mix and match teachers randomly between programs is akin to having a GenEd teacher teach a SpEd class, which I think almost everyone would agree is completely inappropriate as well as illegal in some cases, I believe.
As a teacher of APP students currently the administration is a major consideration when experienced APP teachers make the decision to transfer or not. In addition as a teacher I see comprehensive middle schools to be inclusive of art, music, and foreign language. I heavily disagree with STEM focus which I think is silly. You give students the comprehensive experience so that they can then focus in the future in high school or college. Don't pre-suppose that all students will want STEM or need STEM to the exclusion of all else. There will be artists and technicians and engineers and all sorts of students.
ReplyDeleteHaving rooms to offer classes such as coding or app creation should certainly be available for a few periods a day but that will mean that the school shouldn't be full to physical capacity so these rooms are available.
In addition the Facebook hatred is a bit classist in that it's very common and to put the blog only on BlogSpot actually serves to disconnect readers. If the FB account links or mirrors to this site then okay but if we start the day with input only from a select group then JAMS won't be fully inclusive.
I think we should start this conversation by brainstorming the things we want in common -- like music and art and clubs and sports. Obviously there will need to be program planning for specific groups, but we do need to build a sense of community as a single school.
ReplyDeleteJK
Just to be clear, this blog is in no way affiliated with any Facebook group.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the 8th grade events. The big kids set the tone for the younger ones and if every kid feels enfranchised from the get-go and strong community is built, everyone will have a much better experience as we start a new community from scratch. Otherwise they will all feel like refugees from Eckstein or Hamilton.
ReplyDeleteSo, my wishes include vigorous community building starting with events over the summer - Frisbee, Matthews Beach, flash mob at the fountain, etc. Let's also get going on beefing up the library over the summer. Then, all three languages, choir, band and orchestra. LA classes with Shakespeare in the schools for every program - there is a great little theater in the JAMS building. Science that takes advantage of the beaver pond and the greenhouses. And YES to stronger math for all. Sue Peters, please help us here.
I'm hoping for a plain and simple comprehensive middle school that offers a well rounded core of classes - math, science, LA/SS, multiple languages (that would be consistent with the high school pathways - Spanish, French, Japanese), art (visual and performing), music, and PE. Stick with the basics and make them strong.
ReplyDeleteJust to clarify -
ReplyDeleteThe advanced learning portion of the conversation with Principal Montgomery at the John Rogers PTA meeting this week was mostly concerned with how John Rogers' advanced learners would be served at JAMS. Many of our students have not been AL tested,since there was no desire of the families to leave John Rogers for advanced learning programs elsewhere. We were happy to hear that Principal Montgomery will look at all the data, and not just labels, to support our kids.
- KM
I agree with many of the comments posted. I am interested in both short term opening plans and the quality of education for the first few years, as I have an Eckstein 7th grader that will be transitioning to JAMS for 8th grade, and in long term school development, as I have two younger children (3rd Sacajawea, 2 years) who will both attend JAMS. Will there be a meeting to kick the planning process off (or has there already been one)? It will take strong leadership to make this school a success. It is unclear to me who is organizing the planning and gathering of community input and this worries me. I realize the principal will be integral, but who is helping her lead this effort? When will the meetings occur? How do we get involved?
ReplyDeleteWhat plans are place to ensure the strong programs our children have been involved with at Eckstein (vocal jazz, sports, etc.), will be available at JAMS?
ReplyDeleteFour of the last five comments have no name or handle (a request by the blog admins, right below the comment field), making it difficult for others to respond to your comments. Please everyone, try to heed this simple request.
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous at 2:48 pm, I think it just takes someone (anyone!) to step up and suggest a topic (or two or three), and a time and place to meet. One thing to consider: certain schools/groups may get away with meetups during the day because they have quite a few stay-at-home parents. That might not be the case at JAMS, though I don't want to presume too much. But it might be worth discussing here first. Thoughts everyone?
There are a lot of potential topics, some of which will be of interest to only a subset of the overall population, i.e. Spectrum and APP issues, but world languages and band/orchestra/choir cast pretty wide nets and might make for good starter topics. Or if you want to get people riled up from the start, suggest a meeting to talk about math curricula/textbooks!
I want inspiring music teachers and ability based orchestras/bands/choirs.
ReplyDeleteK.
K, it's hard to imagine there wouldn't be ability based orchestras/bands/choirs at JAMS. My question is how many levels can be supported, and will there be a parent support organization?
ReplyDeleteHamilton currently has 5 levels of orchestras, 4 levels of concert bands, 2 or 3 levels of jazz bands and 2 vocal ensembles. Eckstein has a similar number of offerings. It seems unlikely JAMS will be able to start out with that kind of music program right away, but I think we could make a case for 3 levels right from the start.
The parent support group at Hamilton (FOMAHI) is an amazing asset and helps with many aspects of the music program. I'm less familiar with Eckstein's program, but they do have a Friends of Band group there as well. I would suggest that outreach to JAMS parents needs to happen as soon as possible (like now!) to get the groundwork laid for a music support organization. It takes a good deal of time to get things set up. It seems to me that it would be a good idea for Interested parties to get in touch with the FOMAHI and/or Friends of Band groups for help getting started.
I'd like to suggest that people also write about what they can give to JAMS and the JAMS community - not just what they want. Or to paraphrase JFK, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. So what skills, talents, and energy can we all contribute to JAMS? If people included that info with their "wants" it would help move us forward. RR
ReplyDeleteReply to Unknown Nov. 23 at 7:20 a.m.
ReplyDeleteGood point and very timely. I'll start. I can contribute time. I am a very experienced field trip and class project coordinator. Also, between my partner and myself (with some parent help), we may be able to coach an after-school sport.
K.
As a starting point, it may be useful to summarize what each existing school (JAK8, Eckstein, and Hamilton) has as offerings for foreign languages, music, sports, clubs, etc., and see where they overlap. Where they overlap, can those be assured offerings, and where they deviate, do they make sense as offerings at JAMS? I would be interested in specific threads for various offerings, starting with electives - foreign language, music, fine and performing arts, computer skills, etc. Discussions need to include how to maintain continuity for geo-split students. This way, once the planning meetings begin, families will have a better idea of what others are bringing to the table.
ReplyDeleteFor example, Eckstein offers 3 languages - Spanish, Japanese, and French - starting in 7th grade. Hamilton has only 2 languages - Spanish and Japanese - starting in 6th grade. And JAK8?
I guess I'd like to know people's wants first in order to know how to best contribute.
-CS
JA K-8 offers Spanish and Chinese/Mandarin (Mandarin is new this year). Historically, languages at the K-8 were only available for 7th and 8th graders, but I'm not sure if that still applied to this year's (large) 6th grade class.
ReplyDelete-KM
I can offer fundraising experience, both annual fund and events. When a PTA gets started, it will be necessary to kick the year off very quickly with pre-planned fundraisers so that the PTA has operating funds. Also, I would like to offer to start a Model United Nations club, which can be a very fun way for all kids in the school to participate and learn a lot about world affairs. Some schools even send their students on a trip to the UN in NYC. (Will have to check more on how they fund that) Making this school unique will help ease the transition - so love cool ideas about what can make that happen. My daughter would also prefer if everyone could take martial arts. (:
ReplyDeleteAlso, if site moderator could post (as soon as available) how and when meetings will take place, that would be helpful. An open meeting with all parents who would like to be involved would be helpful, rather than only PTA reps.
ReplyDelete