Use the links below for answers to frequently asked questions regarding Middle Level Transition:
When will the transition take place?
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The middle school transition to two 6-8 middle schools will occur during the same year as the opening of the new high school-the 2009-2010 school year.
What will happen?
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The 8th and 9th grade classes that make up Indian Crest in 2008-2009 will move as an entire group in September 2009 to become the first 9th and 10th grade classes in the new high school. Indian Crest and Indian Valley will become two 6-8 middle schools with approximately 800 students in each school.
What school will my child attend?
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The boundaries for each school have yet to be determined. Two factors will have the greatest effect upon where the "boundary lines" will be drawn: (1) the need to create two equally-size middle schools of approximately 800 students each and (2) the need to bus/transport students to the middle schools in an efficient manner. The official boundary for each school will be determined in May 2008 - fifteen months prior to the actual transition.
When will decisions related to schools and team assignments be made?
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Students and teachers will know which building they will be in one year prior to the transition. This will allows for a smoother transition in terms of preparing students to attend a specific school, and allow teachers to plan with new colleagues during the year prior to the transition.
How will parents be informed and kept up to date about middle level issues prior to, during and beyond the transition?
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The SASD will provide middle school transition updates in newsletters, in television programs, and via the Web site. The SASD will have informative meetings at the elementary schools (starting in the fall of 2007) as the transition approaches.
Will the schools be the same?
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The two middle schools will provide students with the same academic programs,
co-curricular activities and student support services. Indian Crest and Indian Valley students will have the same opportunities. However, an important transition goal is to keep each school's unique identity and positive culture.
I heard that Team X is the best--will they stay together? Will the teachers remain in their current buildings?
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The transition will require quite a bit of staff re-assignment as Grades 6 and 7 are introduced to Indian Crest and Grade 8 comes to Indian Valley. Both IV and IC will employ the teaming concept, but the teams will need to be reorganized in both schools.
I have children who went through the middle school; will my younger child get basically the same experience as his/her older sibling?
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Yes-but the SASD is using the transition as an opportunity to improve key aspects of its middle level program.
How will specialized programs such as autistic support work in the new schools?
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As needed, a program may serve a small number or specialized group of students so that all of those students in that program are best served in one location. In such cases, one of the middle schools will be designated as a center for that program-along with the accompanying facilities and transportation accommodations.
How will the schools address the developmental differences between 6th and 8th graders in the program, and within the building?
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A rejuvenated team teaching structure will help teachers focus on the unique academic and developmental needs of the different grade levels. Grade level teams will focus on unique themes; for example, Sixth Grade teams will focus on establishing organizational and study skills, while Eighth Grade teams will focus on student decision-making and preparing for the transition to high school. Additionally, each middle school will be developing Student Advocacy programs where adults in the school will connect regularly with a small number of "advisees" to address needs and concerns of early adolescents.
My child will be going into 7th grade during the 2009-2010 school year. How will the transition affect which school he/she will attend?
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There will be students who will need to leave Indian Valley at the end of Grade 6 and Grade 7 in order to go to Indian Crest as 8th graders in 2009-2010. Those students will be identified in June 2008 after the boundaries are formally defined. Although the dislocation is unavoidable, special meetings and services will be offered to those affected students and families.
I went to (Crest/Valley) and there was a very strong rivalry between the schools. Will this rivalry be encouraged or discouraged by the district?
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A "healthy rivalry" will be encouraged between the Mustangs and Eagles. There will also be inter-building events planned so that students and families from both schools will appreciate the schools' similarities and differences.
