Annual Report

Middle School Highlights

2003-2004

December 13, 2004

The Seward Middle School was founded in 1991 with the configuration of grades 5-8 with approximately 35 staff members and 400 students. The process of becoming a middle school in philosophy started several years before 1991.

The mission statement of the Seward Middle School is as follows: the Seward Middle School, in cooperation with parents and community, is committed to providing young adolescent students with the understanding and skills necessary to cope with their own changes from childhood to adolescence. These students will be educated in a safe school environment which allows for the development of an intellectually reflective person. Students will be prepared for continued school success and life-long learning with emphasis on the development of essential skills, positive self-concept, and the ability to work in a cooperative manner.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM

Seward Middle School was created to help this diverse, active group of young people learn and move successfully through this important stage of life. The Seward Middle School provides students with many opportunities to develop academic skills, acquire fundamental knowledge, determine their interests and special talents, and experience a sense of belonging. We focus upon helping students satisfy their need for close relationships with teachers and friends while moving toward greater independence. Varied teaching and learning approaches are very evident in our school. Our teachers use individual and group projects, problem-solving activities, cooperative learning groups, lectures, demonstrations, and utilization of community resources.

The curriculum is challenging, integrative and exploratory. Helping students see how subjects relate to and support each other is important. Students achieve better when activities are related to their out-of-school lives and when they can use skills learned in seeking solutions to real problems.

Students receive the basic core classes of math, social studies, science and language arts at each grade level that are aligned to the Nebraska State Academic Standards. Students may also take classes in areas such as art, vocal and instrumental music, exploratory music, technology, keyboarding, agricultural science, physical education, and health. These classes are supported by a strong resource program and guidance services for the students.

TOPTIME

Our teachers and students are placed together in teams that provide a sense of family within the larger school community. This program is called "Toptime." Toptime matches an adult advocate with each student, someone who knows the child well and is available to work with students and parents about academic or other concerns. There are 19 Toptimes and 15-18 students in each group. Students who have learned to cooperate with and care about others help create a pleasant school atmosphere in which everyone feels a sense of security and belonging. We believe that our advisory program increases a sense of belonging to the school and in teacher-student relationships. Toptime is the primary vehicle for our school to integrate such programs as Character Counts, community service projects, and many other activities.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION

Outdoor Education has been in existence since September of 1992. Presently, Seward Middle School 6^th grade students use the outdoor education experience as a time to transition from upper elementary to middle school. While at camp there is a positive networking between high school student counselors, teachers, and guidance counselor and the sixth grade students. For many students this will be their first and only camping experience. Outdoor education provides experiences that never can be duplicated in any typical classroom. Teachers have the opportunity to observe social and leadership skills of 6^th graders never seen in the classroom. Staff members observe student�s strengths in August and expand on them throughout the year.

The Gerald Coffey VFW Post 4755, Cattle National Bank, and Jones National Bank of Seward, Nebraska contribute money each year to pay for the camp experience for the students. This is a great example of the community, parents and school working together to provide excellent learning opportunities for our students.

TEAMMATES

TeamMates is a mentoring program modeled after the original program begun by Tom and Nancy Osborne in 1991. The school-based mentoring program pairs adult volunteers one-on-one with middle school students. Adult TeamMates serve as positive role models for students needing extra adult attention. They meet with their student TeamMates at least one hour a week during school hours, and share in a variety of activities.

Through Seward County BRIDGES, Seward Middle School became a TeamMates school in 2000. Currently, there are eight students teamed with a mentor in the TeamMates program at Seward Middle School.

RECOGNITION AND COMMUNITY EFFORTS

In the 2003-2004 school year, Seward Middle School staff and students received much recognition. In addition to being successful in many extra-curricular athletics and activities, Seward Middle School students participated in community efforts such as transferring books from the old library to the new library, donating money to the victims of the tornado in Hallam and sending Valentine cards to servicemen in Iraq. The school enjoyed the successes of the 6^th grade being the top team at the Seward County Reading Classic, students finishing first and second at the VFW essay contest, and students placing at the Seward County Spelling Bee. Finally, as part of the physical education curriculum, all students walked over 3 miles on the Plum Creek Trail Walk for the first time.