The planning team for the 6th Grade Center gave an update on their progress:
6th Grade Center Team Structure for 2025-26:
- 3 Teams housed in the existing building
- Special Education will be spread across all 3 teams
- Spanish Dual Language will be spread across 2 teams
- French Dual Language will be on 1 team
Administrative and Student Support:
- 6th Grade Administrator
- 1 Assistant Principal
- 1 Student Interventionist
- 3 Student Relations Supervisors
Benefits of a 3-Team Model
- Similar and familiar to our current teaming model
- Easier to build community and hold whole team celebrations with less students, as opposed to a two team model
- Teachers should only need to be certified in one content area, which allows them to be an expert in their content area and have less curriculum preparation time
- Allows for students to remain in their team groups throughout their elective periods
- Building configuration allows students to stay in their physical team “space” within the building and students would only travel for lunch and electives
- Ability to continue to keep an advisory period to teach AVID and SEL strategies
Anticipated Outcomes
- Improved academic outcomes for students
- Positive learning environment for students and staff
- Improved culture and climate due to embedded SEL and community building
- Improved teacher retention and recruitment
- AVID for all embedded will improve AVID interest in electives in 7th and 8th
- Students will be more ready and prepared for 6th grade and the middle school structure, as well as for the transition to 7th grade
- Less students leaving the district for their middle school schooling
- Less roaming and skipping due to less physical space and more targeted supervision
- Fewer total students to supervise in both sites
Rough Schedule:
- Two lunch periods (~150 students or half of our current lunchroom numbers)
- Increased minutes for team classes (55 min) for adopted curriculum (decreased minutes for exploratory (39 min)
- Decreased passing time - less time in the hallways
- AVID for All - AVID embedded strategies in all classes
- Before school enrichment clubs/activities will continue at UMS - transportation provided
- Acceleration options will continue at UMS - transportation provided
Q: If there are three teams, why are there four science classrooms?
A: The fourth science lab is a dual language science lab.
Q: With the accelerated classes, is there a way to do those inside the 6th grade center if there are enough students who qualify for them?
A: It's typically less than 10 students who qualify. The most common is math. We will work with their schedules to accommodate the accelerated class at the 7/8 building.
Q: Why the change to the length of classes?
A: We have increased core curriculum minutes, partially because we have new curriculum.
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