Washington Middle School: Missoula, Montana, USA
Missoula is the largest city in western Montana with a population of around 55,000 people. There are several smaller communities in the surrounding area, so the total population in the five valleys is about 70,000. The University of Montana is located less than a mile east of our school. This creates a very diverse population in our city as well as at our school. Washington Middle School has approximately 510 students; 150 sixth graders, 190 seventh graders, and 170 eighth graders. Our school is the largest of the four middle schools in Missoula. We have adopted the middle school philosophy of teaming within grade levels. We currently have three sixth grade teams, two seventh grade teams, and two eighth grade teams. By following this practice, students and teachers within teams develop closer relationships over the course of the year. Each team creates its own schedules autonomously and adjusts them according to the changing activities. Teaming also allows for more parental communication as well as teacher-to-teacher and teacher-to-student conference times. There are numerous activities that are offered before, during, and after school. Some of them include All City Choir, All City Band, All City Orchestra, MathCounts, Chess Club, Stained Glass classes, Future Problem Solving, Science Olympiad, Yearbook, Peer Mediators, and Dance. After school sports are also important to us. We have flag football, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and track teams. Our school day begins at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 3:25 p.m. We have five core classes: Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, Science, and Health Enhancement (Health and P.E.). In addition, each student participates in one Music class (Band, Orchestra, Choir, or General Music) and one elective. Elective choices include Multimedia, French, Press Club, Art, Drama, and Home Economics. Our eighth grade team has been conducting water quality testing in our neighborhood stream, Pattee Creek, for the past three years. Pattee Creek is one of several streams that feeds into the Clark Fork River system, part of the Columbia River Watershed. We are continuing that study and would like to contrast our findings with those from other communities on a global scale. We think the water quality in Pattee Creek is pretty good, but we need to make some comparisons in order to have a better perspective.
Eighth Grade Science Washington Middle School Teresa Toller, teacher