Middle School

Oxford Middle School

Welcome to the 2011-2012 school year.  I welcome back our current sixth, seventh and eighth grade students and extend a special welcome to the newest members to the Oxford Middle School, our fifth graders.  Learning builds day by day as students are exposed to new classes and learning environments. Students should be at school on time, 7:55, prepared and ready to learn. Attendance is critical as lessons taught each week will be the basis for learning in future weeks. Students are more likely to be successful and get better grades if they are here in school.

Middle School is an exciting time full of new responsibilities and challenges.  Students will begin to gain academic independence and assume new responsibilities as learners.  Students at the middle school are given student planners (agenda books) at the beginning of the school year.  The purpose of the planner is for students to record their daily homework assignments and future/long term projects.  It helps them to gain independence by knowing when things are due and what needs to get done each night.  Students are expected to bring the planner to EVERY class. The agenda book also enhances school to home communication.  This gives students and their families an idea about what needs to be done (or is going on) in each class. The planner helps students to manage their time, stay organized and set goals.  We recommend that each night you go through the planner and discuss what assignments are due.  At some grade levels a parent signature is required.

The days here will be busy and filled with a variety of activities.  We encourage students to explore all the activities, clubs, teams and organizations that they can become involved in.  On Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, students can meet with individual teachers from 2:30-3:15 to receive additional help and support along their middle school journey.  Bus transportation is provided to students that sign up by noon, in the Main Office, on those days. 

HATCH      

Two years ago the middle school implemented a new intervention program.  The HATCH Program ( H (homework) A (assistance) and T (tutorial) C (class work) and H (help) holds students accountable for completing assignments on a daily basis (homework or class work).

Here is how it works:

If a student has not completed an assignment, they are required to complete the assignment for a minimum of a 50% grade.  The teacher has the option to provide a higher grade according to their grading procedures.  This is part of creating a “No Failure Zone” and increasing academic responsibility.  The goal of the program is to decrease the number of students who are not successful in courses at the middle level.

This is immediate intervention to assist students in understanding that academic assignments must be completed and are not optional.  Students have the opportunity to attend HATCH during the school day or may be required to remain after the instructional day to get assignments done. We look forward to providing as many opportunities as possible for students to be successful in the future.

I am excited for the 2011-2012 school year and continuing to work with students and parents in the Oxford community. Please feel free to stop in the office or email me at khansen@oxac.org with any comments or concerns. 

Kathleen Hansen

Middle School Principal