Schools to Watch

Springbank Middle School (Calgary, Alberta) 
Wilson Middle School (Lethbridge, Alberta)

Wilson Middle School (Lethbridge)

  

 

What makes our school good and how do we know? 
There are three outstanding aspects to our school that makes it a great place to learn and work. First and foremost, a safe, caring and enriching learning environment is created in our school, overlooking the stunning Rockies. 

Secondly, the staff and parents are committed to serving the learning needs of all members of the school community by providing high expectations, rich resources and respectful service to all. 
Finally, engaging activities are created to stimulate lifelong emotional, social, physical, environmental and academic learning. 
These conditions have allowed our learners to flourish and become successful contributing members of society. 


Wilson Middle School Home Page











Wilson Middle School has made numerous changes this year to address middle school philosophy. Wilson has created an advisor system with grade 6, 7, and 8 students with the same professional teacher for the three years they are at Wilson. The advisor classes meet daily. Student roundtables were held last year to get student input into option courses. 



We have created an Exploratory option classes that are cross graded and offered every quarter. The idea is for students to try different kinds of options over a short period of time. We have also offered ESL and next year support in Numeracy and Literacy in the Exploratory option block.


* Timetable structure has created four periods of core subjects everyday for students in forty eight minutes periods. Besides the four core subjects thre is a 13 minute advisor period, a PE class, exploratory option class and a general option class. The timetable structure allows teachers to "chunk" blocks of time. i.e. Back to backsocial studies classes. Assemblies are scheduled during exploratory to limit impact on core teaching time.


 A Wellness Committee was created in 2003 focusing on proper nutrition and physical fitness. All food items considered as "junk food" were taken out of the school cafeteria. The staff improvement committee made daily physical education a timetable priority. A breakfast club was established in the morning’s prior to the start of school for students needing breakfast. The club is staffed by teachers every morning and funded through donations to our poverty fund.


2008-09 AISI Project- What ever it Takes- 



This is a joint project between GPMS and WMS. This project will address the learning needs of students in middle school who struggle academically. Extra supports for these students will be put in place. The supports will take the form of differentiated strategies in the classroom that will target struggling students. A resource center (Reach Room) will also be available for students during the day. It is staffed by a teacher during the day that will provide individual and differentiated assistance to students.


Professional development for staff will be a key component in teachers learning to differentiate. Five teachers in grade 6 will participate in a technology projectsponsored by HP. The project will provide $38,000.00 in technology and professional development for teachers. The project’s curricular focuswill be in the science area.



Craig Brack

Principal

Wilson Middle School

Lethbridge Alberta