Strafford Middle School

WELCOME Strafford Middle School “It’s GREAT in the MIDDLE” Marcia Chadwell - Principal Shane Pierce - Assistant Principal Susan Sanders – Counselor Angie Taylor - Secretary

Welcome to the Strafford Middle School!

Mission Statement of Strafford Middle School

“The aim of Strafford Middle School is to help the students develop as problem-solvers and to nurture the individual’s growth in basic skills, thinking skills, and personal/social qualities.”

School Motto

“GREAT IN THE MIDDLE”

The Middle School is made up of 415 fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. We are a Positive Behavior Support (P.B.S.) school. PBS is the application of evidence-based strategies and systems to assist schools to increase academic performance, increase safety, decrease problem behavior, and establish positive school cultures.  The focus of PBS is on a school-wide system of support that includes strategies for defining, teaching, and supporting appropriate behaviors to create a positive school environment.  Support or strategies to achieve positive behaviors to create a positive school environment.  Support or strategies to achieve positive behavior are taught in all areas of the school, including individual classrooms and common area and throughout the school (cafeteria, library, restrooms, etc).

The purpose of school-wide PBS is to establish a climate in which appropriate behavior is the norm.  PBS provides a positive and effective alternative to the traditional methods of discipline.  PBS methods are research-based and proven to significantly reduce the occurrence of problem behaviors in the school, resulting in a more positive school climate and increased academic performance.  Introducing, modeling, and reinforcing positive social behavior is an important aspect of a student's educational experience.  Teaching behavioral expectations and recognizing students for following them is a much more positive approach than waiting for misbehavior to occur before responding.  What does this mean for the student?  Students will know and follow the Behavior Expectations:  As a student of Strafford Middle School I will be a Safe, Respectful, Responsible Learner.  Students will have the opportunity to practice positive behavior all year long.  Students will be recognized for their positive behavior on a regular basis

Our new media center is equipped with 26 computers available for research, and other educational activities. We also have 60 lap tops and 26 netbooks that are on mobile stations with wireless internet access for use in the classrooms.  There are now three checkout stations available for access to the catalogs as well as checking out books.  Our community has access to the catalog via the internet to look at what books are available in our library.  The circulation continues to grow as we continue to strive to purchase books that are age appropriate and will enhance reading and research.

Our reading committee has implemented the “Power Verbs” into all areas of our middle school curriculum. These are MAP words which we are making an effort to motivate all of our students to know in an effort to improve student achievement. The reading committee has implemented the Scholastic Reading Inventory. This is a test that students will take in all grades to determine their reading ability. The students will be tested in September, December, and then again in April or May. The Scholastic Reading Inventory will give us a Lexile score which will allow us to assist them with their reading across the curriculum.

Our middle school offers a variety of activities which include volleyball, football, basketball, track, cross country, cheerleading, peer mediation, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Jr. Future Farmers of America, chess club, science club, journalism club, student council, National Junior Honor Society, and math club. The staff consists of twenty-five members who take a great deal of pride in educating the leaders of tomorrow. We welcome visitors to come see why it is so great in the "middle".