School Structure:
When Patterson Mill Middle School opens in August of 2007, students will have 7
evenly divided periods. Each major subject will be allocated 50 minutes. Two additional
periods will be set aside for physical education, performing arts groups and other
unified arts programs.
About our School:
Patterson Mill Middle School will offer a comprehensive program of study designed
to meet state grade level and graduation requirements. The middle years of schooling, which range from 6th through 8th grade, are an especially
vulnerable and formative period for students. The transition form childhood to adolescence
involves more rapid psychological development than any age besides infancy. Middle
school bridges the chasm between the worlds of elementary and high school, and the
patterns of behavior and identity formed in middle school powerfully shape students'
high school experiences. We at Patterson Mill Middle School understand the needs
to adhere to high academic standards in order to prepare our students for the rigors
of high school as well as attend to students' social-emotional development in order
to support academic achievement and facilitate the transitions that occur during
this exciting time of human development.
Based on the challenges unique to the middle years we at Patterson Mill will work
towards the following ideals and precepts:
- Recognize and support the middle grades as a unique development stage apart from
the elementary and high school grades.
- Strengthen middle level organizational structures, instructional practices, and
classroom learning environments to meet the needs of the middle learner.
- Improve middle level transitions.
- Identify and promote specialized middle level teacher and school leader competencies.
Patterson Mill Middle School will focus on three Core Areas:
- We will promote and stimulate collaborative leadership and professional learning
communities.
- We will focus on fostering relationships and personalization of the learning environment.
- We will emphasize a rigorous curriculum, effective instruction, and relevant assessments.
Patterson Mill Middle School will truly emulate the 3 R's of public education today:
Patterson Mill Facts and Information: