UCPS Middle School Education

Purpose Statement:
By helping all students to succeed, the Middle School Education Department is dedicated to improving the educational experiences of young adolescents by providing vision, knowledge, and resources to all who are served in order to develop healthy, productive, and ethical citizens. Adopted from the National Midde School Association, 2009

"Where in the World is....Sun Valley Middle?"

svm In an effort to integrate globalization throughout the total school program, middle school principals were presented with Sun Valley Middle School's efforts to enhance the international community in many facets of the school's environment. A result of recent school renovations, the leadership team is promoting the global community through constructing a large world map, which details the geographic origins of the school's students and teachers, placing globalization belief statements throughout the school, creating data boards, painting flags from different countries on ceiling tiles in the corridors, and emphasizing international studies within the curriculum. Pictured on the right is Ms. Blaire Traywick, Principal, as she leads the administrators on a tour of the school.

Can We Assist You?

Our middle school curriculum coordinators are available to assist you with content-specific questions regarding your child's academic progress. Picutured left to right are Ms. Artez Watts (Mathematics), Ms. Lori Peyton (Science), Mr. Stacy Moore (Social Studies), and Ms. Ronda Baker (Language Arts). Just "click" the link below for e-mail assistance.

Mathematics Questions for Ms. Watts

Science Questions for Ms. Peyton

Social Studies Questions for Mr. Moore

Language Arts Questions for Ms. Baker

Globalization Goes "Through the Middle"

wv1 Approximately 120 Union County Public Schools educators, including teams of teachers and administrators from all UCPS middle schools, recently attended the World View International Program for Educators in Chapel Hill. The purpose of the event was to experience World View's Fall Symposium, 21st Century Skills for the Global Economy. The day-and-a-half conference offered presentations by renowned speakers, as well as North Carolina practitioners, in order to support local schools. General sessions, break-out groups, and team meetings all centered upon the goal of how schools can better prepare students for the 21st Century. The conference also afforded teams from each school the opportunity to revisit their globalization plans and apply best-practices in their efforts to extend learning opportunities beyond the school walls.

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(above left) Dr. Tom Bulla, Principal of Marivn Ridge Middle, meets with the teams from Marvin Ridge High and Marvin Ridge Middle during a breakout session in order to explore globalization strategies within their individual school plans.

(above right) Sypmposium keynote speaker, Dr.Yong Zhao, advised educators about the changes that schools must make in order to sustain globalization and prepare students for the 21st Century world. Dr. Zhao is pictured above with Ms. Rachel Clarke, Principal of Kensington Elementary, and Ms. Lori Cauthen, Director of Elementary Education.

Best Practices Highlighted at Middle School Principals Meeting

Piedmont Middle School Principal, Ms. Anne Radke, shares her faculty's talents regarding development of instructional frameworks with all UCPS middle school principals during their monthly meeting. In an effort to embed the NC Standard Course of Study consistently within the total school program, Ms. Radke and her staff have developed rubrics to enhance instructional planning, delivery, and assessments. This involved school-wide discussions about curricular design, instructional monitoring, and how to build upon overall results. Integration of instruction throughout the school is an advantage to this approach and should lead teachers and staff members in articulating new and better ideas regarding student achievement. Following the presentation, a conversation regarding "what good instruction is like in middle school" was lead by Dr. Mary Ellis, Deputy Superintendent for Instruction.

Cuthbertson Middle Celebrates Their Dedication!

lhealy Principal Laurel Healy assists Dean Arp, Board of Education Chairman, Mr. Lanny Openshaw, County Commissioner, and Dr. Ed Davis, Superintendent, in the official ribbon cutting of Cuthbertson Middle and High Schools.

cuthbertson flyer School system leaders, community members, and the Cuthbertson school family gathered on Friday, September 25th, to celebrate the dedication of Cuthbertson Middle and High Schools. Prior to a 1:00 p.m. ceremony, guests at Cuthbertson Middle were treated to a luncheon and tour of the new facility, which was conducted by members of the school's dance and cheerleading squads. The culmination of festivities took place in the new campus stadium. Guests were treated to performances by the high school band, cheering squads, and special recognitions from school administrators, board members, and dignitaries.

Superintendent to Meet in Cluster Forums

2009-2010 Cluster Forums
In an effort to reach out to school/community stakeholders and engage in some proactive dialogue, our superintendent will be conducting a series of Cluster Forums during the 2009-2010 school year. These forums will be held at each cluster's high school media center on the last Thursday of the month (except in November and December due to holidays). Please see the schedule below:

Each principal has been asked to identify two parent leaders to represent the school and community to be active participants in constructive discussions on how we can improve the school system and provide greater opportunities for students. Designated School Board members will also be participants in the discussions.

All other interested parties are invited to attend the Cluster Forums as observers.

Forum Schedule
Porter Ridge - Thursday, September 24, 2009, 6:00 p.m., Porter Ridge High School
Cuthbertson - Thursday, October 29, 2009, 6:00 p.m., Cuthbertson High School
Forest Hills - Thursday, November 19, 2009, 6:00 p.m., Forest Hills High School
Monroe (includes Wolfe, CATA, WBEC) - Thursday, December 17, 2009, 6:00 p.m., Monroe High School
Sun Valley (includes Early College) - Thursday, January 28, 2010, 6:00 p.m., Sun Valley High School
Weddington - Thursday, February 25, 2010, 6:00 p.m., Weddington High School
Parkwood (includes South Providence) - Thursday, March 25, 2010, 6:00 p.m., Parkwood High School
Piedmont - Thursday, April 29, 2010, 6:00 p.m., Piedmont High School
Marvin Ridge - Thursday, May 27, 2010, 6:00 p.m., Marvin Ridge High School

Technology and Positive Learning Environments Highlighted at September Principal Meeting

Ms. Melissa G. Davis, Regional Consultant for NC Virtual Public School, presents the virtual education framework available to all middle schools in NC. Middle school principals were also informed of best-practices within a positive school climate model developed at East Union Middle School.

East Union Middle School hosted the middle school principals meeting in September and shared with administrators from around the county how the faculty and students are working diligently to sustain and improve a positive learning environment within the total school program. Principal Kevin Plue and the administrative staff showcased strategies implemented within a PBIS approach, which is customized according the unique qualities and attributes of their school. The school's aims include a clear understanding of common expectations for behavior in all areas of the school, an incentive program that allows student to establish individual behavioral and performance goals, lessons that model expected behavior, a school-wide uniform dress code, and other collective desires for positive participation at East Union Middle.

Middle School Language Arts Teachers Participate in Writing Workshop!

During the week of August 3 -6, 92 teachers from around the school district participated in a residency institute focusing upon improving student writing within the middle school framework. Sponsored by The Reading and Writing Project Network, based out of Columbia University, New York, the Home Grown Summer Writing Institute provided professional development and site-based coaching as teachers explored varied research-based instructional methods for literacy instruction.

Ms. Ronda Baker, Language Arts Curriculum Coordinator for Middle Schools, quoted, " The purpose of the institute was to help teachers learn and strengthen their ability to support students who are learning to be powerful and independent readers and writers. In writing workshops, students learn to observe their lives and the world around them, and to collect, draft, revise, edit, and publish well-crafted narrative and expository texts. In reading workshops, students are explicitly taught the strategies and habits of proficient readers. They learn to talk, think, and write well about their reading, and to to live richly literate lives."

The institute marked the fifth year that UCPS middle schools have been actively engaged in comprehensive literacy staff development. The first two years focused upon reading, and the integration of writing has followed the past three years. The presenters leading the workshop were:

Maggie Beattie, a former middle school teacher, who has studied literacy education at Teachers College and leads staff development in New York City, Seattle and Chicago.
Garrett Kyle, who taught high school in Miami, Florida, before working as a middle school teacher and a literacy coach in East Harlem. Garrett lifts the level of teaching in New York City, Seattle and Buffalo.
Chris Lehman received his Ed. M. in Education Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. He supports rigorous literacy work in districts across the country, including Rancho Santa Fe, CA and Union County, NC. Chris is currently co-facilitator for the Writing Network of the Queen Rania Teacher Academy in Amman, Jordan. Prior to joining the project, Chris taught middle and high school ELA and was a literacy coach in New York City.
Kate Roberts, a middle school staff developer and screen writer, who leads a leadership group on using drama to lift reading and writing. Kate is writing a book on ways teachers can use their own writing as a teaching tool.

Baker concluded that the training and support from The Reading and Writing Project Network helps UCPS teachers understand how to differentiate and individualize instruction in order to meet the needs of the diverse learners in each classroom.

Effectiveness Abounds in UCPS Middle Schools!

baker New middle school teachers to Union County Public Schools participated in 3 days of intensive orientation entitled "Effective Practices" during their last full week of summer break. In addition to receiving orientation from Superintendent Davis, the cabinet staff, and members of UCPS Human Resources, teachers participated in training related to functions of the effective middle school educator. Technology, distance learning, content area support, classroom management, and other areas of staff development were provided during the three days at the system's Professional Development Center.

Upcoming UCPS Calendar Dates Related to Middle School