Rumor Mill-4668
Published November 11, 2010
The purpose of this section is to answer any questions parents, teachers or community members might have regarding the school district and to set the record straight in regards to any rumors that might be circulating. If you have a question or have heard a rumor that you would like for us to address, simply SEND US your questions and we will respond to them in upcoming issues of IN FOCUS. Below are some of the questions we received since our last newsletter.
My daughter is in sixth grade at Spring Station Middle School. She doesn’t have her own Science text book. Instead, there is only one set of about 30 text books that stays in the classroom at all times for all of the students to share and use only when they are in the classroom. I’ve heard that some schools are sharing Science text books like Spring Station while other schools provide an individual text book for each core subject to all of the students. I’ve also been told that the school district didn’t have enough money to supply each child with his or her own text book. Why doesn’t Spring Station provide an individual Science text book for each student?
Each year, the state of TN provides districts with the opportunity to adopt state approved materials to be used in the classroom. The adoption process runs in six year cycles. Two years ago, when we adopted and purchased materials for science, we adopted both a traditional textbook and a series of science kits to help our students better learn science. The decision was also based on selecting materials that supported the teaching of the new, more rigorous TN state standards. This was a sound instructional decision in which research tells us that students best learn science through hands-on, inquiry-based experiences to build important scientific concepts.
The kits we adopted are state approved and considered by the state as a textbook in that all students have access to the materials. The kits contain lesson plans, materials and equipment, and assessments. Each middle school teacher has multiple resources for teaching science: a class set of hard cover Holt Science textbooks for use in the classroom, online student access to the Holt textbook for use at home and three different titles of science kits, each of which also has as class set of readers. This is consistent for all middle school science classes throughout the district.
We have provided and will continue to provide professional development to middle school science teachers on how best to use the resources they have to meet the needs of students. To help our students meet the new state standards for proficiency in middle school science, we must give them opportunities to actively inquire and practice the processes of science.
We strongly encourage the science note-booking strategy to help students make meaning from their experiences in the classroom and deeply develop their understanding. And when they are reading from a science text, it is very important that a teacher be there to guide that reading using research based strategies. Students should be able to succeed in a standards-based science classroom without taking a traditional textbook home at night. They still use that textbook when appropriate in class, and they still have homework, but it should look different from the traditional assignments such as “answer questions 1-4 on p.92.”
What are the chances of a school uniform being considered by the board for Williamson County Schools?
According to Williamson County School Board policy, individual schools have the right to adopt a uniform dress code. At this time there is no plan to change Board policy and institute a district-wide uniform dress code. Select this LINK and to find additional information regarding the Board's policy on Dress Code (Section 6.310).
My son is currently at Page High but according to the plan will be at Summit next year. He has a friend currently at Page High as well however he is zoned to stay at Page and would like to go to Summit. Is this an example of where the "3 with me" program would be possible?
If the latest rezoning proposal is approved as it now stands, your son would be eligible for the "3 with Me" program, which would allow his friend to attend Summit High as long as the friend is not a junior or senior. Summit High will open with only freshmen and sophomores. Additional information about the rezoning proposal and the "3 with Me" program can be found HERE.