Oxford Middle School soon could be put on a national watch list.
But that is not necessarily a bad thing.
OMS will be visited by representatives of Schools to Watch (STW) on Feb. 3 after they approved the school’s application.
STW was launched by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform in 1999.
The initiative identifies school across the United States that are on their way to meeting the Forum’s criteria for high performance in three areas ? academics, adolescent development and social equity.
OMS Principal Ken Weaver saw an advertisement for Schools to Watch when it came across his desk more than a year ago, and he decided to apply.
‘It looked interesting. It looked like something that we could use for self-reflection and see where we are at. Plus the participation in the conferences was also intriguing because it’s an opportunity to get ideas from other schools and see where we are at,? said Weaver. ‘It’s kind of like a measuring stick to see where we are at and where we are heading.
After filling out the 25-page application and gathering the necessary paperwork, he submitted the application in early December.
According to Weaver, the school had to provide information on their MEAP scores, suspension data that was broken down by different subgroups and the demographics of the school and its staff.
After that, he had to answer a series of questions that dealt with the schools academics, the developmental responsiveness of the school, the schools social equity and organizational structure and process.
He was notified of the initiative’s decision to approve their application when he returned from Christmas break.
‘We are really excited about this and are honored that they are coming to visit,? he said.
‘It’s not only a great honor, its also a great learning tool,? said Weaver. ‘When you are looking at what you are doing and reflecting, then you are searching to see what you can do, which is the best form of professional development.?
According to Weaver, the visitation will take place during the course of the day. The team will be visiting classrooms, looking at examples of student work and curriculum.
‘We want to show them examples of what the school day is like and trying to show artifacts of all the different programs and everything else that is going on at the middle school,? he said.
The team would also conduct interviews with staff and students during the course of the visit. Once the tour of the school is completed, they will meet with district administration, board members and parents.
Weaver said that one of the benefits from joining STW would be to host other schools at yearly conferences.
‘You would get to participate in their conferences as a school to watch. They host visitors and talk with others and interact with them as professionals and colleagues and get ideas from each other.?
According to STW’s website, high preforming schools are academically excellent, challenging all students to use their minds.
Students are expected to meet high academic standards. They would be given examples of high quality work before starting an assignment and allowed the opportunity for revision based on feedback they receive.
The school’s curriculum would focus on deep understanding of important concepts and the development of essential skills. Teachers would make connections across the disciplines to reinforce important concepts and assist students in thinking critically and applying what they have learned to solve real-world problems.
High performing schools are also sensitive to the unique developmental challenges of early adolescence. At STW, the staff creates a personalized environment that supports each student’s intellectual, ethical, social and physical development.
Every student would be paired with a mentor throughout their entire time in middle school.
Teachers would also foster curiosity, creativity and the development of social skills in a structured and supportive environment.
High-performing schools are also socially equitable, democratic and fair, providing every student with high-quality teacher, resources and learning opportunities.
Teachers would continually adapt curriculum, instruction, assessment and scheduling to meet their students diverse and changing needs.
The final criteria for high-performing schools is the organizational structure and process. The schools establish norms, structures and organizational arrangements to support and sustain their trajectory toward excellence.