Dana Peterson, Principal (dpeterson@wuhsms.org)

Grades 7 and 8 with 210 Students

School History

Woodstock Union Middle School began as a junior high, in the present 7-12 complex, when an addition was made to the high school in 1968.The junior high officially became Woodstock Union Middle School at the start of the 1992-93 academic year.Since that time the Middle School has striven to fully implement the philosophy that education must address not o­nly the academic but also personal development needs of early adolescents.

School Philosophy

In 1990, Vermont presented its first view of a Mission Statement for the Middle Grades.It acknowledged that early adolescence is a critical turning point in all children’s lives.As a school committed to a middle-level focus, Woodstock Union Middle School recognizes that it must respond to the significant developmental changes of early adolescence by striving to provide the following: (1) a student-responsive curriculum and pedagogy, (2) success-oriented learning environments, (3) rigorous student and program assessment, (4) coordination of education/health/social services, and (5) home/school/ community collaboration and parent involvement.

Annual Goals

The three major areas of focus for the 2005-2006 school year have been (1) the continuation of our respectful schools initiative entitled REACH-UP Day which emphasizes cultural diversity and awareness to help address issues related to harassment and bullying; (2) a continued school-wide emphasis o­n developing and expanding instructional strategies to reach all students, which includes additional training for staff in differentiated instruction techniques; and (3) the effective implementation of a new web-based communication tool called Ed Line, which allows each teacher to design a customized set of web pages for instructional purposes including resource links, homework activities, a calendar of classroom events and other communications that will be useful to both students and parents.

Program Structure

The Middle School is composed of a seventh grade team, an eighth grade team and a specials team.Students are organized into heterogeneously mixed traveling groups.This year marks the third year of implementation of four daily extended block periods which alternate o­n a two day cycle. As a result, students can take up to eight classes over a two-day period.During the two-day cycle, students take five core classes, (including math, science, English, social studies, physical education, life skills, technology education, computer applications and health), and they can take a variety of electives in the remaining three blocks.This structure provides students with an opportunity to explore art, music, foreign language (French or Spanish), and plant and wildlife science.In addition, our daily schedule provides for a 20 minute silent reading period during which all students and staff take time out of the schedule to read a book of their own choosing.

Curriculum Highlights

The Middle School offers a number of exploratory classes from candle making to rhythmic drumming to book binding and ice skating.In the past few years, staff members have also piloted new curricular offerings through the exploratory program.One of the most successful electives introduced in this way has been an integrated-arts class entitled “Creative Film.”Other exploratory initiatives that have strong curricular ties include natural science topics (presented by the Vermont Institute for Natural Science) and our recently developed “Science Bowl” exploratory, which focuses o­n alternative energy sources and the development of a fuel-cell-powered model car.

Interdisciplinary projects are emphasized at both grade levels.Field trips to the Peabody-Essex Museum, Lowell, MA, Montreal and the Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Historical Park allow students to gain important insights into the value of studying a variety of disciplines.

The Middle School also offers multiple support services: the Shining Light Mentoring Program, an after-school academic support period, a School to Work Program, a Career Exploration Program, a Language Enhancement Program (to help students develop the skills necessary to perform at grade level in reading and writing) and a math skills class.These offerings complement a wide range of athletic and co-curricular programs, including a superior theater program, a dedicated yearbook program, a dynamic student council, which receives regular training in leadership development, and an active chapter of Vermont Kids Against Tobacco.

Community Outreach Initiatives

The Theater Program puts o­n numerous public performances at school and even travels to other communities to perform.The Music and Art Programs schedule a variety of events and performances for the benefit of the greater community.In addition, several partnerships have been established with community members who come into the school to provide guest lectures, demonstrations, mini-courses and tutorial support for individual students, as well as groups.Service projects at both grade levels emphasize local and global awareness of human needs.The seventh grade “Hunger Banquet” supports food distribution at the local, state and international levels.The eighth grade “Holiday Helper” project has provided clothing and holiday gifts for area families.Several teachers also include visits to the local senior center and town establishments to facilitate and exchange of information across generations and enhance our students’ knowledge of their sense of place.This year the entire middle school and high school communities have decided to adopt a town in Mississippi, Pass Christian, in order to provide o­n-going reconstruction support in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.Relief initiatives include providing textbooks, reestablishing a library collection and providing supplies and backpacks to students.

Furthermore, in the past two years, the middle school has hosted a variety of Learning Circles programs in which several community members have come in to share knowledge and expertise o­n topics of high interest related to prominent themes in our community and the world.

Long-Term Goals

1.To analyze student assessment data in order to identify students as early as possible for interventions and services that will help ensure their success

2.To have all students performing at or near grade level for reading, writing and math by the time they complete grade eight.

3.To provide an opportunity for all students to incorporate reflection time into their routine while developing the independence necessary for acquiring the critical analytical skills for life long learning.

4.To coordinate curriculum and student needs analysis through collegial collaboration to provide for a smoother transition from fifth grade through seventh grade, as well as from seventh grade through ninth.