(by Don Meador, July 20, 2022)
The start of the 2022-23 school year at the James E. Bazzell Middle School (JEBMS) will bring with it a renewed focus on getting students engaged in learning through student-centered projects and activities as well as helping students discover their individual skills as they start thinking about career ambitions.
With the new school year, many things will be the same as when last year ended---the same with regard to daily schedules, expectations, dress and conduct guidelines, and overall learning expectations.
“Most of the general school stuff has not changed,” Towery noted. “However, we are not offering a virtual component as we did the last couple of years. It will all be in-person which we are super excited about. It’s hard to make connections with kids virtually. Of course, if we had a student that is home for several days (such as COVID-19), we will still employ some synchronous learning to keep them caught up. When the students arrive on August 11, they will see a lot of smiling teachers and excitement.”
Teachers have been in the building planning and preparing---with additional work to be done before August 11. One area of focus is more project-based learning which is designed to engage each student.
“We are looking at more engagement by having more projects for the kids to be involved in,” Towery added. “One of the hardest things with middle schoolers is getting them engaged in their learning. The teachers have training planned for project-based learning and for engagement methods. We are excited about that.”
Towery noted that a new program will be started early in the year to lay a foundation for students to build on in the coming years as their attention turns to exploring career options.
“We are also looking at a program to help kids identify what their strengths are,” Towery explained. “ There is research out there that shows that choosing a career based on what your strengths are and your interests are, will create a more happy and successful career more than anything else. If you choose something you enjoy doing and are good at then that’s what will produce a good job environment Our goal is not to get kids to say I want to be an electrician before they leave middle school but our goal is to help kids leave the middle school being able to say, I’m really good at talking, or I’m really good at research, or I’m really good at working with my hands. We want students to start identifying their strengths so that they can connect to some jobs that a really good talker can do or a job that involves research. We want the students to start thinking about a career path when they leave us.”
The school is also using a new assessment tool to help teachers better plan for classroom work.
“We will not be using the STAR assessment but we are starting the benchmark called Fast Bridge,” Towery said. “That will help us to gage where a student is, whether or not they are on grade level. Fast Bridge provides some resources to help discover where kids are.”
As students begin the year, several new faculty and staff will be in the building----either in new roles or new to the building. Like every school in the Allen County School District, a wave of retirements, transfers, and departures has left the school with a different look this year.
“Right now, only two of our new teachers are new to the District,” Towery pointed out. “The others have worked in the District or are coming back in new roles.”
New teachers and staff as of July 15 include Lynn Rockrohr (8th grade Math), Jeron McGuire (Computer Literacy), Seth Burchett (7th grade Social Studies), Andrew Sanford (8th grade Science), and Taylor York (8th grade ECE). Shelby Fisher will also be the school’s new Instructional Coach after leaving the classroom to replace Sherry Long who retired. The remaining vacant positions are expected to be filled by the start of school.
Parents/guardians of middle school students should have received information electronically regarding their child’s team placements and open house information.
“We are not mailing out letters this year as we have done in the past,” noted Towery. “We are sending the information through our Parent Square app. With the mailings, we were getting several letters back due to incorrect addresses. I’m actually a little saddened by that because I know when my kids were in school, they would run to the mailbox and come back running announcing which team they were on. But, we are trying to do it through Parent Square. That will tell them what team they are on and what few supplies they will need. The District is purchasing most of their supplies.”
Towery does note that parents/guardians, as well as students, will still have some choice in purchasing school supplies.
“There are a handful of things that kids will need with the choice left up to the student,” Towery said. “Glue sticks, scissors, pencils, and all that kind of the stuff will be purchased by the District.”
This year’s daily schedule will remain the same as the case in May. The doors open at 7 a.m. for students’ dropped off. Buses start unloading at 7:20. Classes dismiss at 2:50.
“I think the eighth graders will be great leaders and I’ve heard great things about the new seventh graders coming in.” Towery added. “Overall, we will have about 470-480 students at the middle school.
In sports, the new school year will have a pair of new coaches. Josh Bewley will coach football and Jeff Workman will lead the soccer teams. Ryley Whitney will assist with the softball team.
Students and parents will have an opportunity to get schedules and meet teachers during Open House on Thursday, August 4. Seventh graders are requested to come from 5:15 until 7:15 while eighth graders should come from 6:15 until 8 that evening. Parents/guardians will receive a packet of materials for their review as well at that time.