|
The Mission Statement
“We, the staff of Dexter McCarty Middle School, consider it our mission to ensure that our school becomes an institution that is known for academic excellence and ethical conduct. It is a community where personal responsibility, accountability and good judgement are taught, modeled and expected of all. We are a school where safety and respect are the norm, and expectation for success are paramount.” |
My Goals for Volunteering:
Create relationships with Students Install perseverance Implement better organization Complete weekly check-ins with Attendance kids Be present and be involved |
My Plan & Responsibilities:
I have met with the school counselor at DMMS to configure where we can implement change. She picked a group of 10 sixth graders from the school to track their attendance and create more positive development. She picked students that were not too far off from having good attendance, but enough to where we could try and implement change. Anything under 90% is considered chronically absent and anything under 80% is considered severely absent. Ms. Attmore chose 10 kids who started out the first part of the school year with attendance in the low 80's for us to measure. We created a survey for these students to measure the barriers for them to see what things we might be able to help change.
I am also to host a 20 minute organization station once a week with 8th grade WEB leaders and 6th graders. This is to have the 8th graders be leaders and help 6th graders get organized with their classes and stay organized. I have the 8th graders act as mentors to the 6th graders and have them complete binder checks to make sure they are staying organized.
I have met with the school counselor at DMMS to configure where we can implement change. She picked a group of 10 sixth graders from the school to track their attendance and create more positive development. She picked students that were not too far off from having good attendance, but enough to where we could try and implement change. Anything under 90% is considered chronically absent and anything under 80% is considered severely absent. Ms. Attmore chose 10 kids who started out the first part of the school year with attendance in the low 80's for us to measure. We created a survey for these students to measure the barriers for them to see what things we might be able to help change.
I am also to host a 20 minute organization station once a week with 8th grade WEB leaders and 6th graders. This is to have the 8th graders be leaders and help 6th graders get organized with their classes and stay organized. I have the 8th graders act as mentors to the 6th graders and have them complete binder checks to make sure they are staying organized.
|
| ||
Reflection:
I have really enjoyed getting to know the many students at Dexter McCarty Middle School, they are full of stories and laughter. Each student has a different background and a different story to share, they are all so unique. I have seen so much potential in each of these kids and have love sharing some of my story and my path to college with them. They have so many questions and are so curious about life and life after being a student in a public school. I hope to have inspired some of the students I have come across.
In the survey with the students, being that the information of student is confidential, I can only share some of the overall results. Many of the students said friends is the issue with coming to school. There has been drama in their friend group, or they don't feel like they have any friends, or feel uncomfortable being around this many people. Some have said the teachers are mean and don't like to work with them very much. Ms. Attmore and I sat down with a few students who said they are having friendship problems and worked out some of the issues there, and we saw a slight change of attendance and simply being happier. The teacher situation is somewhat hard to change, we talked with a few of the teachers and they stated the student has been disruptive and not cooperating very well. Overall, we have started to see a slight change in attendance for the students and it has been a great achievement.
This will be an experience that I take with me forever, I always thought middle schoolers are at the worst age, none of them will listen to you, and they will bully you. Working with this school and in this position I have changed my views, and I love middle schoolers. I think it is one of the most important ages in life and figuring out who you are.
I have really enjoyed getting to know the many students at Dexter McCarty Middle School, they are full of stories and laughter. Each student has a different background and a different story to share, they are all so unique. I have seen so much potential in each of these kids and have love sharing some of my story and my path to college with them. They have so many questions and are so curious about life and life after being a student in a public school. I hope to have inspired some of the students I have come across.
In the survey with the students, being that the information of student is confidential, I can only share some of the overall results. Many of the students said friends is the issue with coming to school. There has been drama in their friend group, or they don't feel like they have any friends, or feel uncomfortable being around this many people. Some have said the teachers are mean and don't like to work with them very much. Ms. Attmore and I sat down with a few students who said they are having friendship problems and worked out some of the issues there, and we saw a slight change of attendance and simply being happier. The teacher situation is somewhat hard to change, we talked with a few of the teachers and they stated the student has been disruptive and not cooperating very well. Overall, we have started to see a slight change in attendance for the students and it has been a great achievement.
This will be an experience that I take with me forever, I always thought middle schoolers are at the worst age, none of them will listen to you, and they will bully you. Working with this school and in this position I have changed my views, and I love middle schoolers. I think it is one of the most important ages in life and figuring out who you are.