Columbia County Middle Schools
Caught in the middle! No longer children, but certainly not
adults! What a wonderful time of life,
characterized by an unparalleled energy level and a motivation for
learning. With these thoughts in mind,
we welcome you to the middle schools of Columbia County School System. You will find each of our schools to be safe,
warm, inviting, and characterized by a school climate and culture conducive to
maximum learning.
The Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools, which is the oldest accrediting agency in the nation, has
affirmed that our middle schools meet the high standards of excellence
necessary for their accreditation. This is an on-going process, and a challenge
that is met on a continuous basis.
Our schools, complete with
addresses and phone numbers are listed below:
1095
Fury’s
Instructional Time, Attendance, and Conduct
The middle school instructional day
consists of two distinct blocks of instruction. The core block is 300 minutes in length, and
focuses on learning opportunities in math, social studies, science, and
language arts. Foreign language and
remediation/enrichment opportunities may also be included in this block, at the
discretion of the individual schools.
The connections block consists of
two classes that are each approximately forty-five minutes in length. Classes are offered on a nine-week basis, and
may include instruction
in the following:
Band, General Music, Choral Music
Physical Education, Health
Foreign Language
Technology Laboratory
Business and Informational
Technology
Family and Consumer Science
Students may also be offered opportunities
for remediation of skills during the connections block.
Students are expected to attend
school 180 days during the regular school year.
The student handbook outlines the attendance policies in detail, as well
as consequences for non-attendance.
Excused absences are granted by the school system under certain
circumstances deemed appropriate by the administration.
Students are compelled to exhibit
proper conduct at all times during attendance in school and at school-sponsored
events. When any population
of individuals join together in a common environment, there exists a
need for rules which govern proper conduct.
These rules and consequences are clearly defined in the student code of
conduct contained within the student handbook.
Each student receives a copy of this document and is encouraged, along
with their parents, to read and develop a clear understanding of its
contents.
Enrollment
Parents wishing to enroll their
child in a middle school for the first time must furnish a certificate of eye,
ear, and dental examination. All
students must be immunized for contagious diseases. The Department of Human Resources Form 3032,
Certificate of Immunization, serves as evidence of immunization. A withdrawal form with grades and
verification of class placement status is required of students enrolling during
the school year. Students who enroll
during the summer months prior to the beginning of school should bring a report
card indicating promotion or retention. Copies of standardized tests scores area also useful to counselors
working in the registration process.
This information makes placement a more expedient process.
Curriculum
Mathematics
Students in grade 6 may receive instruction
in either general mathematics or advanced mathematics. This placement is determined through the use
of a formula that utilizes information from both elementary math grades and
standardized tests. Parents may petition the principal for a waiver if their
son/daughter does not meet the criteria for placement into the advanced
mathematics class. It is most critical,
however, that the proper placement be obtained through the consideration of all
available data. Not all students are
ready for advanced mathematics, and many students will function well and
develop a good foundation for future coursework when placed in the general
mathematics classes.
Students in grade 7 may receive
instruction in either general mathematics or pre-Algebra. Once again, proper placement is
critical. The school follows established
criteria for placement in an effort to insure that the student can be
successful and develop the concepts and skills necessary for future math
courses. Waivers for special
circumstances are available through the building principal.
Students in grade 8 may receive
instruction in either pre-Algebra or Algebra I.
Those students who are ready to proceed with strong algebraic concepts
are scheduled into the Algebra I classes.
These students may receive high school credit for successful completion
of this course, as it is taught on a level of rigor and curriculum commensurate
with the high school course. Parents may
have a choice as to whether to accept or reject this credit at the end of the
middle school experience. Students who
will benefit more from placement in pre-Algebra receive a strong foundation
that will enhance their chances of success in a high school Algebra I class. As in earlier courses, waivers for special
circumstances are available through the building principal.
Science
Students in grades 6-8 receive
instruction in a spiraled, integrated format that includes physical, life, and
earth sciences. At the end of the middle
school experience, students should have a firm understanding of the basic
concepts of all three divisions, as well as the ways they interrelate to form
our world and interactions of the species within. Laboratory opportunities, along with projects
and other kinesthetic/tactile learning experiences enhance the instruction in
this arena. Advanced content instruction
in science is offered to all students who qualify for the gifted program in
seventh grade. Additional high-achieving
students may be offered this opportunity in blended classes, at the discretion
of the individual schools.
Social Studies
Social Studies in the middle
school grades six and seven involves extensive study
in world history and related geography.
A legislative mandate requires that eighth grade students participate in
a yearlong study of
Language Arts
Language arts instruction in
middle grades focuses on the various forms of communication and the skills
needed to adequately engage in such at a desired level of competency.
Physical Education and
Health
The state of
Connections Classes
These classes are taught in a
separate time slot from the core instruction.
They are generally special interest classes that help middle school
students to become exposed to a diversity of concepts, and to
“connect” with potential future high school coursework. Normally forty-five minutes in length, and nine
weeks in duration, these courses
help the middle school students “connect” with their special interests and
provide a framework for vocational/technical and fine arts pursuits. Band, chorus, and foreign language, due to
the nature of the courses, are taught in a full year schedule. Foreign language is often paired with
physical education/health so that one annual connections course offering
provides the equivalent of one semester of physical education and one semester
of foreign language.
Gifted Education
Advanced content instruction is
offered to all students who have met the criteria for identification in the
gifted education program. Students have
gifted level instruction in math during each of the three years they are in
middle school. Additionally, advanced
content in social studies, science, and language arts is taught on a rotational
basis. Social studies advanced content
is presented in sixth grade, with science in seventh and language arts in
eighth. Each middle school offers these
same basic opportunities for gifted learners.
Schools may choose to offer blended classes (classes made up of gifted learners
and high achievers), or structure their offering only for students identified
in the gifted program. Columbia County
School System is one of the few systems in
Grades and Homework
Grades are reported to parents
each nine weeks, with intermittent progress reports at the midpoint of each
grading cycle. Grades are meant to be an
accurate assessment of achievement, and are assigned as follows:
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 72-79
D 70-72
F 69
and below
Homework is assigned as an
augmentation to instruction, and helps to reinforce skills learned within the
regular classroom. Parents are asked to
encourage students to complete homework in a timely manner as assigned. For specific homework policies, please refer
to your student handbook, or contact your school’s guidance counselor and/or
administration.
Middle Grades
Project
The middle grades project is an
opportunity for all eighth grade students to exhibit, in a performance-based
format, skills and concepts learned during the middle school experience. At the beginning of the eighth grade year,
students are introduced to several potential project guidelines, and may choose
among the indicated selections. Each
project has math, social studies, science, and language arts components, as
well as research, technology, and presentation modules. Eight days per year are dedicated to the
completion of this project, and the vast majority of it should be completed
within the school setting. Students
receive guidance from faculty members throughout the process. There is a formal evaluation upon completion,
and resulting assessment is calculated as a part of the student grade in each
core area.
Middle School Concept /
Interdisciplinary Team Approach
Each grade level is divided into
teams, or pods, of approximately seventy-five to one hundred twenty-five
students assigned to a specific interdisciplinary team of teachers. The term “interdisciplinary” refers to the
concept that teachers work and plan together, in order to present subject
matter in such a way that students understand relationships between math,
science, social studies and language arts.
Teachers in each team have the same planning period, and use this time
to discuss student progress and plan related educational experiences for the
students in their pod. This approach
leads to cohesive instruction, and helps the faculty to better serve the students
within their individual schools.
Organizations / Student
Participation
Middle schools provide a host of
opportunities for students to participate in organized activities. In athletics, possibilities in traditional
sports such as basketball, softball, soccer, and football are augmented by
opportunities in tennis, golf, and track.
The number and variety of these athletic offerings may vary from year to
year, and from school to school. In
addition to athletics, endless opportunities for involvement in academic
organizations, newspaper staff, yearbook production, and other non-athletic
entities provide a focus for the preference of each student regardless of
diversity of interest.
Assistance
GUIDANCE COUNSELORS: The guidance program addresses the
needs of middle school students by stressing academic achievement,
decision-making, and person/social development.
The program emphasizes development of respect for self and others,
problem solving, career exploration, study skills, and personal
responsibility. Individual counseling
and group counseling services are available to all students. Parents are encouraged to contact counselors
in the schools to receive detailed information regarding these and other
services provided.
TEACHERS
STUDENT SUPPORT
SPECIAL SERVICES: A full continuum of services is
provided for students having impairments or disabilities. Locations for some services may require
transportation to sites other than the student’s home school. Currently, programs area available for middle
school students who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hearing impaired,
emotionally/behaviorally disordered, intellectually disabled, orthopedic
impaired, other health impaired, severely emotionally disturbed, specific
learning disabled, and speech/language impaired. Additional information may be obtained by
contacting the Special Services Department of Columbia County Schools.
TRANSPORTATION: The transportation department provides
bus service to all students living more than one and a half miles from their
schools. Service is also provided for
students who live in designated hazardous traffic zones but may be within the
one and a half mile limit. Additional
information may be obtained by contacting the Transportation Department of
Columbia County Schools.