Fourth-grade teacher Don Haley worked with students in class. The Methow Valley Schools have been providing in-person instruction since September.
What should a middle-school program in the Methow Valley look like?
The Methow Valley School District is seeking feedback on its proposal for a school for sixth- through eighth-graders. The middle school would provide a transition between the elementary school and high school (whether at Liberty Bell or the Independent Learning Center).
The school district is holding a remote meeting for feedback from all interested school families and community members on Tuesday (March 30) at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held over Zoom (log-in info:
https://zoom.us/j/95491049787…)
The middle school – in a new modular building on the main school campus – would focus on this important developmental stage, with a special team of teachers and instruction tailored to these grades.
Students in seventh and eighth grades would continue to rotate within their current schedule, and sixth-graders would still spend most of their time with their homeroom teacher. But there would be opportunities for sixth-graders to take electives – such as world language – at Liberty Bell. There would also be a special lunch period for middle-school students.
The concept grows out of the district’s Dream Big event held last year, where participants voiced strong support for a school focused on these grades and this crucial transitional phase.
The new modular classroom would be purchased with federal stimulus funds (at no cost to taxpayers) in time for the 2021-22 school year.
The program would also help relieve pressure on classroom space at Methow Valley Elementary, where enrollment has grown significantly in recent years.
People can also provide input to Methow Valley Superintendent Tom Venable at tvenable@methow.org. For more information, call 996-9205.
