141 Davis Street,
Greenfield, MA 01301, 413.772.1300 (voice),
413.774.7940 (fax)
OUR SCHOOLS |
DISTRICT INFO |
SCHOOL COMMITTEE |
|
|
| GPSK12 |
|
| Volunteers (VIPs) |
| Schools |
| Technology |
|
| GPS Library Home Page |
| Links |
 |
|
 |
Gr. 6-7
 Watch Slideshow |
|
2010-11 in Review |
Open House 2010 Movie |
|
|
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MATH SCI ACADEMY
We hope that this FAQ section will be helpful. Please send any additional questions you have to: superintendent@gpsk12.org. We will update this information so please check back frequently.
GENERAL
- Is Greenfield’s Math and Science Academy an Innovation School? And, if so, what is an Innovation School?
Answer: As of January 2010, new legislation in Massachusetts allows school districts to create “innovation schools.” These are schools based on a proposal and plan advanced through the school committee for authorization. The intent of the legislation was to stimulate innovation within school districts.
A goal is for the new Math & Science Academy for Grade 6 and 7 to be one of the state’s first innovation schools. The Math & Science Academy will open in September and shortly thereafter will submit paperwork to have Innovation School status. The school committee has supported this school being opened in September.
Can students “Choice-In” from other districts?
Yes, as a Greenfield public school and one of our district schools, students can choice in based on seats available.
As a new school, we should have openings for out-of-district students in 2010-2011.
- How do I apply for my child to attend the school?
The process for applying to any Greenfield school is basically the same. The forms to apply are on our website. We recommend any interested parent also contact Heather Evans who is coordinating the new math and science academy. She needs to know as soon as possible who is interested in attending (mathsci@gpsk12.org).
- How do I know if this would be a good school choice for my child? How do parents decide about a math & science school?
The math/science school will be a good fit for students who love to learn and have an interest and aptitude for math and science.
Students do not have to be the top students in a class, but they do need to do homework every night and enjoy learning about science and mathematics. The school will be small community of learners and teachers will be able to provide individual attention. One of the goals of the school is to prepare students to take advantage of the accelerated and Advanced Placement courses offered in Greenfield during grade 8 and then throughout grades 9-12.
- Where will the math/science school be housed?
The Math & Science Academy during the first year will occupy a suite of rooms at the end of the unused wing at Four Corners School (the rooms closest to Federal Street). The space is being redesigned and updated during this summer. There will be five large spaces (3 classrooms including a science lab, a library/student center area, and a meeting/presentation room).This area has offices and separate bathrooms The space is very bright and airy, has been freshly painted, and is having new floors and windows installed. This school is on 9 acres of land, as a gymnasium, and a kitchen. Through scheduling, students will have outdoor exercise and all activities.
We anticipate the school will grow to 50-60 students over three years. As the school grows, the school committee may re-open a school so the grade 6-7 academy has its own building. For 2010-2011 in the first year, however, we opted for a separate suite of rooms in an existing school with full secretarial, phone, technology, custodial, and administrative services in place.
- What is the daily schedule?
We will use the same overall daily schedule as Greenfield’s middle school so that the buses are shared. Doors at all of our schools open at 7:30 a.m. so students can come early and have breakfast if parents are driving them in.
For classes, our approximate schedule has school will opening at 7:45 a.m., a morning assembly, and then classes beginning at 8 a.m. The academic day will end at 2:20 p.m. Lunch will be at 11:30 a.m. Breaks (indoor and outside) will be built into the schedule.
The Math & Science Academy is not officially part of the Expanded Learning Time grant program at the middle school. Students are not required to stay the additional 90 minutes. That said, however, we are planning for the new academy’s students to have access to a 90-minute extended day program, including some of the options at the middle school. Our grant funding allows $1300 per student to pay for the expanded day, and we will fund the MSA students separate from the ELT grant.
Also, the Math & Science Academy will offer new programs that any middle school student might enjoy—a science team, a math team, and other age-appropriate, high-interest activities.
The school day’s expanded time program will end approximately 3:20 p.m.
ACADEMICS AND GENERAL PROGRAM
- What does a focus on math and science really mean?
One goal of the new academy is to prepare students to take Algebra I, a high school course, in 7th grade and allow students to advance into college-level courses while in high school. Students then can take full advantage of all math and science advanced courses offered at the 8th Grade Academy and also throughout grades 9 and 12. Beginning 2010-2011, Greenfield High School is a designated math/science AP high school. We also offer Greenfield Community College courses for dual credit.
A second goal is helping students learn how to successfully take courses that have academic rigor and self-discipline (for homework), an academic challenge, and daily study. We want students to be youthful but also learn good habits of serious scholarship during their intermediate school years.
A third goal is to provide an option for students or parents who want a more in-depth preparation in math and science in a setting that has a science and math identity. The science program will be accelerated primarily because students will have two science courses each year—two separate foundation sciences including Physics and Integrated Biology and Chemistry each year. This is a common curriculum for students in other countries but not in the US and provides a very solid foundation.
- How will the school determine the appropriate curriculum for students?
At the beginning of the year students will be given a screening in Mathematics and English for placement purposes. In all classes students will be pre-tested before a unit of instruction and the content will be adjusted accordingly.
Otherwise, the curriculum (all but math and world language) will be in a two-year sequence and students will not be separated by grade. For example, there will be two year’s worth of physics units—a series of units for year 1 and a series of units for year 2. Similarly, there will be a 2-year sequence of novels and reading materials—a collection for year 1 and a collection for year 2.
Mathematics will be adjusted for level. If students in grade 6 are ready for algebra, that would be fine. If students in grade 7 still need to work on algebra readiness, that will be the level of instruction offered. Having pre-algebra in grade 6 should prepare students for algebra I in grade 7, however.
- Apart from math and science, what will the other classes be?
Students will also take courses in all the required areas--English, History, Science, and Mathematics. We will offer physical education, a world language --Spanish, studies in technology (Robotics), and exposure and learning in the arts. Our students and teachers will be connected to program requirements and offerings for grades 6 and 7.
- Will technology be incorporated into the program?
Yes, students will be encouraged to use technology for research and group presentations in all subject areas. In science and math they will learn how to use a graphing calculator.
- Will there be Extended learning Time?
This is partially answered in Question #6. Two of the after school offerings planned and confirmed are competitive teams in math and science. We are interviewing now for other end-of-day specials in cultural programs, the arts, and unique curriculum areas. These opportunities will be available but students will not have to stay beyond the regular school day. Our buses will be on the extended day schedule.
- Will there be a lot of homework?
If a student is to reach his/her potential in an accelerated program, regular completion of homework is essential. Students in 6th grade will be assigned a total of approximately one hour of homework each night. Those in 7th grade will be assigned approximately one hour and twenty minutes each night.
Homework will be carefully chosen by the teachers so that it supports and strengthens the work that is accomplished in the classroom. If a student is finding math class work challenging, some additional math work and tutoring may be necessary to bring skills up to the needed readiness level.
What is important to note is that the beginning parents will be advising the school as it opens and offering guidance as we adjust these guidelines.
- Will students be able to participate in sports, band, field trips, and assembly programs at the middle school?
Students and families should anticipate having all the enrichment programs of our middle school available to them. Transportation will be the key. Not everything will be possible to arrange. If band, for example, is scheduled in the middle of the day at the middle school, it would be difficult to arrange for our MSA students to participate. If band is scheduled at the end of the day, we will be able to arrange participation. If band is scheduled at the same time as the science team, students won’t be able to do both.
Any sports team for Greenfield students would be available—these are mostly after school and weekends. The middle school has two sports each season and MSA students can participate (soccer, field hockey, softball, baseball, wrestling, basketball and other sport, fitness, and exercise programs are planned . We cannot guarantee transportation but we have our own small buses and anticipate working out after school options.
Assemblies and field trips will be worked out between the middle school administrator and the MSA faculty. The MSA schedule will be designed for flexibility on Fridays to allow for Friday program participation at GMS, if people want this.
FACULTY
- Can you tell me about the teachers at the school?
We are building a team of energetic, creative and enthusiastic teachers who are excited about all of the possibilities at the math/science school. The team will include new teachers and also teachers who teach at the middle school.
Heather Evans will be teaching mathematics and physics and will be coordinating the academy program. Raised and educated in England,
Mrs. Evans has taught math and physics in private and public schools in New England, including students in grades 6 and 7.
We hope to have the full team of teachers identified and working together within the next week.
A very attentive administrative team is working together to assure the program is high quality and well-integrated with our other schools. The team working together includes principals Gary Tashjian (GMS) Donna Woodcock (GHS), Donna Gleason (Four Corners), Kathi Titus (student services), Carol Holzberg (technology), Bernie Novak (food services), and Susan Hollins (Superintendent). Business and transportation services are also involved as schedules are set and the building is transformed
STUDENT BODY
- How many students will there be?
In this first year, we plan to have a minimum of 12- 15 students and a maximum of 34-36 students. We are reviewing applications now. Based on the numbers enrolled, the students will be grouped into one or two classes for instruction.
The second year we anticipate double the students of the first year, not to exceed 50-60 students. By the end of the 2nd year, we should have a better sense of interest and need for the math and science academy and more accurate predictions for size.
MEALS
- Will students be able to take part in the Greenfield District meals program?
Yes, students will be able to have both school breakfast and lunch through the school district’s meals program. Or, students can bring their own meal(s). In Greenfield, every student grades K to 7 is offered breakfast for free.
We are working on the cafeteria schedule and have the option of students either eating in a section of the café or bringing their meals down to their own suite of rooms.
TRANSPORTATION
- Will students be able to use Greenfield Bus Transportation?
Yes, students within Greenfield will be transported to the school and home again using the Greenfield Bus transportation. We find that many students are dropped off and picked up by parents—this seems to be more convenient for parents. For students outside Greenfield, we do not have transportation but we can help parents from the same area connect with each other for ride-sharing.
FAMILY ACCOMMODATION
- Will Greenfield be doing anything for families out of the area—in terms of start and end of day times, or siblings?
We plan to have after-school options for students until 5:30 p.m. We would have to charge for after-school childcare but we can arrange this. Also, there are team sports and we do have students who go into town for various recreation programs after school. We can work with parents around pick-up times.
COST?
- Will there be a cost to parents?
Since the Math & Science Academy is organized as a Massachusetts public school, and will eventually be a Greenfield district Innovation School, it is free to all participating Massachusetts students.
OTHER QUESTIONS
If there are other questions that come to mind, do not be shy.
Contact the Superintendent, Susan Hollins: superintendent@gpsk12.org, or
Heather Evans, MSA teacher/coordinator: mathsci@gpsk12.org
Accepting Applications for 2012-13
An application to The Math & Science Academy includes:
- (preferred but not required)
Attend an informational session.
Application materials will be available. It is helpful if parents and students better understand the program being offered.
- Application (2 pages)
- Affidavit of Residency (so we know student’s legal residence)
- Parent Permission to Release General or Special Program School Records
[We send for records but this can take weeks to obtain. The best method of assuring these are available promptly is to pick up a copy and bring them]
We are requesting that one teacher or principal who knows the student gives us a written or verbal reference indicating the student is apt to do well in this school.)
- Skill Screening in Mathematics
Page updated: January 20, 2012
For Web site queries and questions and to report Web site issues, please contact:
carhol1@gpsk12.org