If you attended the JAMS meeting this evening in the Jane Addams building, please share your thoughts and have a conversation about it!
Here is a link to the materials: Dec. 11 JAMS Meeting Materials
If you missed the meeting, don't worry -- there will be another with the same agenda next Wednesday, December 18, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Jane Addams building.
As always, please review and adhere to our posting guidelines.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Open thread for your thoughts
REMINDER: THERE ARE TWO MEETINGS at the Jane Addams Building coming up, in which Planning Principal Paula Montgomery will speak with prospective parents about JAMS. Please plan to attend one or both of these meetings!
The Jane Addams building is located at 11051 34th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98125. The library is located on the second floor.
___________________________________
Share your thoughts about JAMS programming and facilities in the comments to this post. Starting next week, we will have regular posts about specific areas of programming, incorporating the comments we have so far received from you on this blog and by email.
Please keep the following statement of our blog's focus in mind (this is posted on the right nav bar and on our Guidelines page):
This is a narrowly defined blog. It is about planning JAMS and facilitating community engagement. It is offered by parent volunteers. This is not a place to discuss school district policies, personalities, or politics. It is a place for constructive civil discourse. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or abusive comments without warning or comment.
In addition, we ask that if you post using the "anonymous" option that you choose some sort of handle or posting name, some kind of word that will help the others in the conversation refer to your comment.
Please review our posting guidelines before commenting. Thank you!
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11
and
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18
Both meetings run from 6:30 to 8 in the Jane Addams Middle School library, and both will follow the same agenda. More info about the agenda can be found here: Post: JAMS Meetings Coming Up -- Please Come!
The Jane Addams building is located at 11051 34th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98125. The library is located on the second floor.
___________________________________
Share your thoughts about JAMS programming and facilities in the comments to this post. Starting next week, we will have regular posts about specific areas of programming, incorporating the comments we have so far received from you on this blog and by email.
Please keep the following statement of our blog's focus in mind (this is posted on the right nav bar and on our Guidelines page):
This is a narrowly defined blog. It is about planning JAMS and facilitating community engagement. It is offered by parent volunteers. This is not a place to discuss school district policies, personalities, or politics. It is a place for constructive civil discourse. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or abusive comments without warning or comment.
In addition, we ask that if you post using the "anonymous" option that you choose some sort of handle or posting name, some kind of word that will help the others in the conversation refer to your comment.
Please review our posting guidelines before commenting. Thank you!
Monday, December 9, 2013
Easing the transition for incoming 7th and 8th graders
In response to some questions about whether the upcoming JAMS meetings will be appropriate for incoming students to attend, Paula Montgomery sent us the following.
It sounds as though the middle school principals have this question of transitioning students from their current schools very much on their radar. We've had some discussion in the comments on this blog about ways to help these kids, including meetups well before school starts.
If your child is one who will be re-assigned to JAMS from another middle school, what do you think your child is concerned about? What worries you? What would help your child feel more on board with changing schools? What can the community do to help?
I think that it's fine to bring current middle school students to the December meetings; however, I am thinking that the bulk of the time at the meeting will be to answer questions about programming.
Once we (Eckstein principal, Hamilton principal, and I) get a list of students making the transfer, we will have regular meetings with current 6th and 7th graders to include them in the planning in a way designed for student voice. All three of us want to make sure that all students transferring have a high degree of attention prior to the summer. Once we have teachers hired, those new teachers will also be involved in working with students.
It sounds as though the middle school principals have this question of transitioning students from their current schools very much on their radar. We've had some discussion in the comments on this blog about ways to help these kids, including meetups well before school starts.
If your child is one who will be re-assigned to JAMS from another middle school, what do you think your child is concerned about? What worries you? What would help your child feel more on board with changing schools? What can the community do to help?
Friday, December 6, 2013
JAMS Meetings Coming Up -- Please Come!
From Paula Montgomery, the JAMS Planning Principal:
_________________________
While it is early in the process (we have not hired team leaders), I know that parents have many, many questions, want to meet me, and want to start to give input.
The agenda is the same for both meetings. And we will have monthly meetings after the school year, including a day time option.
Jane Addams Middle School Community Meeting
Jane Addams Middle School Library
(Same agenda both dates)
Wednesday, December 11 6:30-8:00
Wednesday, December 18 6:30-8:00
Agenda:
Overview of timeline , teacher hiring, and spring processes
Review of facility work
Q & A
Opportunity for parents and community to give first input into the educational design
Brief school tour
_______________________
EDITED TO ADD: Paula Montgomery, asked about bringing kids to the December meetings, responded: "I think that it's fine to bring current middle school students to the December meetings; however, I am thinking that the bulk of the time at the meeting will be to answer questions about programming." She added that there are plans to involve current 6th and 7th graders in the planning -- please see the next post.
Also, in response to questions about touring the JA building, she reminded us: "We will absolutely provide tours of the school, but they will need to be during the evening when school is not in session. And yes, no one should enter a school without permission from the current principal."
_________________________
While it is early in the process (we have not hired team leaders), I know that parents have many, many questions, want to meet me, and want to start to give input.
The agenda is the same for both meetings. And we will have monthly meetings after the school year, including a day time option.
Jane Addams Middle School Community Meeting
Jane Addams Middle School Library
(Same agenda both dates)
Wednesday, December 11 6:30-8:00
Wednesday, December 18 6:30-8:00
Agenda:
Overview of timeline , teacher hiring, and spring processes
Review of facility work
Q & A
Opportunity for parents and community to give first input into the educational design
Brief school tour
_______________________
EDITED TO ADD: Paula Montgomery, asked about bringing kids to the December meetings, responded: "I think that it's fine to bring current middle school students to the December meetings; however, I am thinking that the bulk of the time at the meeting will be to answer questions about programming." She added that there are plans to involve current 6th and 7th graders in the planning -- please see the next post.
Also, in response to questions about touring the JA building, she reminded us: "We will absolutely provide tours of the school, but they will need to be during the evening when school is not in session. And yes, no one should enter a school without permission from the current principal."
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Information from Paula Montgomery on JAMS Programming
Thank you all for your comments and questions on the last post. We asked Paula Montgomery, the JAMS Planning Principal, for information on planned meetings with families. We also sent her the link to the last post so she could see what some families are thinking about.
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.
-----------------
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.
-----------------
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.
---------------------
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.
---------------------
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!
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Now let's get planning!
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.
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.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Open Thread: Feel Free to Post Your Thoughts!
Feel free to post your comments, questions, and thoughts in the comment section here. Please keep your comments civil. We reserve the right to delete uncivil or abusive comments without warning or comment. Thanks.
Jane Addams Repurposing Project: Meet our new Planning Principal & View the Building Design!
SAVE THIS DATE!
November 7, 2013, 6:00-7:30 PM
November 7, 2013, 6:00-7:30 PM
Invitation From SPS:
Seattle Public Schools invites you to a Community Meeting on the
Jane Addams Building BEX IV Construction Project
Jane Addams Building BEX IV Construction Project
Date: Thursday, November 7, 2013
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Jane Addams Building, 11051 34 Ave NE
Room: Cafeteria
Dear Jane Addams area communities,
Because you live in the greater Jane Addams building area, you are receiving this letter.
Seattle voters approved the Seattle Public Schools Building Excellence IV (BEX IV) Capital Levy in February 2013, which includes the construction project to repurpose the Jane Addams building to become an attendance area Middle School.
The meeting will be presented by representatives of Seattle Public Schools BEX IV Capital Projects Team, the Jane Addams Middle School planning principal and Hutteball & Oremus Architecture, who will provide information about the project’s early construction design progress. You will be able to learn more about the construction project’s scope, schedule and design exploration. You will be able to ask questions and give us input and feedback. We hope that you will be able to join us!
This meeting is not related to boundaries issues, but only to the construction project to repurpose the building to become a Middle School. As you may know, boundary changes have not been made: the Board is scheduled to vote on any possible changes at its November 20 Board meeting.
For more information, please visit http://bex.seattleschools.org
Sincerely,
Seattle Public Schools Capital Projects Team
Seattle Public Schools Capital Projects Team
October 17 Work Session Staff- Proposal: "Full Grade Assignment in Year One"
Hi all! We found that someone shared this blog's address on the Save Seattle Schools blog. Everyone is welcome! Please respect, however, that this blog is for the purpose of planning JAMS (the curriculum and school, not the student body makeup) and please keep your discussion civil. Thanks!
October 17th School Board Work Session – Staff-recommended proposal:
“North Middle Schools: Full Grade Assignment in Year One”
As part of the October 17th Work Session, SPS Staff presented an alternative to the Oct 16th JAMS implementation proposal, in which students are assigned to JAMS for grades 6-8, instead of opting in at grades 7 and 8.
Here is a link to the presentation from the October 17th Growth Boundaries work session.
A synopsis of the Staff-recommended proposal for starting JAMS as a full comprehensive middle school, grades 6-8, in Year One.
Beginning 2014-15:
a. JA K-8 to John Marshall (two years interim)*.
b. JAMS AA** students (APP, GenEd, SpEd), grades 6-8, assigned to JAMS in the JA building (Geo-split from Eckstein).
c. APP students living in Eckstein AA, grades 6-8), assigned to JAMS in the JA building (Geo-split from Hamilton APP).***
*JA-K-8 students may chose to go to JAMS, but this choice MUST be made during the Open Enrollment period.
**The JAMS Attendance Area is not explicitly defined in the proposal (the previous proposal had John Rogers, Olympic Hills, and Cedar Park feeding into JAMS).
***APP students have a dual assignment to Eckstein, and may opt out of APP to attend Eckstein.
FYI: The Growth Boundaries feedback survey closed 10/25/13. All comments should be directed to the School Board Directors andgrowthboundaries@
October 16 SPS Proposals for Interim Period & Growth Boundaries
Info on the October 16 proposals. A post on the other proposals will follow.
Comments are open, but please remember that this place is really to plan JAMS (the curriculum, not the student body makeup). Uncivil or abusive comments will be deleted without warning or comment. Thanks.
Comments are open, but please remember that this place is really to plan JAMS (the curriculum, not the student body makeup). Uncivil or abusive comments will be deleted without warning or comment. Thanks.
October 16th Recommendations:
Attachment A: Recommended Growth Boundaries, Feeder Patterns, and Option School Geozones
Attachment B: Reference Materials
Attachment C: Summary Information on Public Input
Attachment B: Reference Materials
Attachment C: Summary Information on Public Input
In the Oct. 16th proposal, John Rogers, Cedar Park, and Olympic Hills will feed into JAMS, along with APP kids living within the JAMS and Eckstein service areas. Implementation would be as a 6th grade roll-up with optional entrance at 7th and 8th grade.
From Attachment B:
· Relocate Jane Addams K
· Open JAMS with grades
· Assign JAMS GenEd/
· Give rising 6th‐8th
· Give rising 7th and
· Give rising 6th‐8th
· Start roll‐up of
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