Back to middle School2013-14

Henderson International Middle School

A Place to Belong (Not Merely Attend)

It takes courage to grow up and

become who you really are.

e. e. cummings

A middle schooler lives inside us all

We often try to disguise this fact:

• Biographies of famous people usually do not

include pictures of them during this period

• Stories written about this time of life almost always

include a large measure of embarrassment

• Many of us try to avoid remembering how we

looked and behaved during those years

Middle school is a unique period

• The range of academic, physical, social, and

emotional development is huge

• Relationships among adolescents, and the adults in

their lives, change on a daily basis

• It is a time of self-exploration and self-definition

• It is a time of great curiosity

• Children enter this period as concrete thinkers and

exit with a far greater capacity for abstract and

higher-order thinking

Distinctive developmental needs

Four essential needs of middle school students

• Relationship

• Autonomy

• Competence

• Fun

Adopted from the Northeast Foundation for Children

Middle school educators

• Provide programs aimed at creating a safe and

inclusive environment, without cliques or bullies

• Like working with this age group and have a

thorough understanding of the MS journey

• Actively engage parents as partners

• Work to ensure a smooth transition to/from MS

• Employ a wide-range of techniques and strategies

• Help students make responsible choices and

understand consequences

Adopted from NAIS Principles of Good Practice

Our middle school team

Fifth Grade: Heather Berg & Tanya Yamada

Sixth – Eighth Grade: Donna Raucher, Joe Petrelli,

Anne Michelle Perkins, & Tara Cadena

Spanish: Rikki Martin

Digital Media: Krissy Waldman

Electives: Nick Stamanis, Jillian Pizzuto, Krissy Waldman,

& Gabe Cadena

Physical Education: Andy Corridori, Mimie Hall, &

Ricardo Baldizan

News & Reminders

• Tonight: Start with your child’s first period teacher

o Schedules are available

• Tonight: Learn about the teacher and the class

• Sep 13: Outdoor Ed forms due

• Sep 17: Circle of Power & Respect Meeting 6-7PM

• Sep 18: Busses depart for trips (6AM & 6:15AM)

• Sep 26: MS Tech Night 6-7PM

• Oct 1-3: Conferences