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
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