Ware County Middle School

Mr. Lee Robertson, Principal

2301 Cherokee Street

Waycross, GA 31501

Phone:  912-287-2341

Fax:  912-287-2353

Email:  lrobertson@ware.k12.ga.us

WCMS - 2009-10 Supply List

WCMS Athletic Schedule

Ware County Middle School is a public middle school that is situated on eighty-two acres of land and is located on Cherokee Street across from the Waycross-Ware airport.  Original construction of the school began in 1972 and continued until 1985.  These facilities were the home of Ware County High School until June 1994; after which time, Ware County Middle School was established as the larger of two middle schools located in Ware County.  These facilities consist of eight permanent structures, ten tennis courts, a track, a football field, a baseball field, and a greenhouse.  A major renovation of the school began the summer of 2000 and will be completed in the fall of 2001. 

Elementary schools that feed in to Ware Middle are Ruskin Elementary School, Wacona Elementary School, and Waresboro Elementary School.  Ware Middle has an enrollment of approximately 740 sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students.  Ware Middle employs one principal, three assistant principals, one counselor, one media specialist, fifty-seven teachers, ten paraprofessionals, four secretaries, one bookkeeper, one full-time nurse, and one full-time Security Resource Officer.

The middle school program at Ware Middle is designed to accommodate the academic, emotional, and social needs of our students as they make the transition from elementary to middle school and then to high school.

The basic academic curriculum includes the areas of English, Reading, Math, Science, and Social Studies.  Connection classes are also vital parts of the curriculum.  They include: Art, Band, Career Connection, Chorus, Fine Arts, Health and Safety, Keyboarding, Physical Education, and Technology.

Students are scheduled into an interdisciplinary team that allows a core of teachers to frequently discuss instruction, student progress, curricula, and behavioral problems in order to improve student productivity.  Students benefit from greater academic support and an interdisciplinary curriculum.

Mission Statement

The mission of Ware County Middle School is to meet the intellectual, emotional, physical and social development of all students.  With the support of parents and the community, we will prepare our students to be lifelong learners and responsible citizens.

Belief Statements

· Students’ learning needs should be the primary focus of all decisions impacting the work of this school.

· Students need to not only demonstrate their understanding of an essential knowledge and skills, but also need to be actively involved in solving problems and producing quality work.

· Students need to apply their learning in meaningful contexts.

· Students learn in different ways and should be provided with a variety of instructional approaches to support their learning.

· Students learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process.

· Curriculum and instructional practices should incorporate a variety of learning activities to accommodate differences in learning styles.

· Each student is a valued individual with unique physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs.

· Exceptional students require special services and resources.

· A safe and physically comfortable environment promotes student learning.

· Students learn to make appropriate decisions given a supportive and challenging learning environment.

· Teachers, administrators, parents and the community share the responsibility for advancing the school’s missions.

· The school needs to function as a learning organization and promote opportunities for all those who have a stake in the success of the school to work together as a community of learners.

· The commitment to continuous improvement is imperative if our school is going to enable students to become confident, self-directed, lifelong learners.

A Message from our Principal

Every child wants to believe that he or she is a successful person.  Being liked and respected, having physical freedom and choices, and seeing life as just is very important to middle school students.  Meeting and supporting these needs through a sound curriculum and extracurricular activities characterizes my purpose for Ware County Middle School.  Learning experiences must include academic stimulation and challenge, as well as moral and physical development to promote healthy self-images and relationships.

My motto for Ware County Middle School is “Respect and Responsibility will get you where you want to be.”  Responsibility is established when students accomplish meaningful tasks through academic assignments, membership in clubs, and participation in athletics.  Respect is stressed through daily activities by cultivating meaningful relationships between students and staff.  Students are reminded daily of the importance of practicing respect and responsibility. 

All staff members at Ware County Middle School are dedicated to making sure that students receive the best possible environment for learning.  School nutritionists, custodians, clerical staff, teachers, and administrators work diligently to create a caring and nurturing climate for students.  Students and staff all know that Ware County Middle School is a great place to be.

School Improvement Goals

Goal 1:  To improve academic achievement in reading, mathematics, and writing

· Use a variety of computer programs for remedial and enrichment in reading  and math.

· Individual Student and Class Improvement Plans for all students.

· All students participate in the Accelerated Reader Program.

· Daily skill drills for basic computation and mathematical functions.

· Additional instruction in the areas of estimation and geometry at each grade level.

· Every student will be provided a student planner.

· Teachers will utilize technology in implementing classroom instruction.

· Teachers will receive staff development in the following areas:

o Classroom management

o InTech training

o Student support team process

o Strategies for the slow learner

o Content area instruction

o The use of rubrics for assessment

Goal 2:  To improve student attendance school-wide

· Continue established attendance policy.

· Recognize students who have perfect attendance.

· Establish rewards for perfect attendance.

· Call students who are absent.

Goal 3:  To improve parental involvement

· Postcard mailed to each parent inviting them to Open House.

· Mail a monthly parent newsletter.

· Mail a student newsletter 3 times during the year.

· Use a flexible schedule for early release parent conferences.

· Continue the Principal’s Advisory Committee.

· Science Parent Nights

· Spotlight on Ware Middle

Goal 4:  To create an environment that enhances teaching and learning

· Continue Character Education Program.

· Implement action plan for classroom management.

Testing Program

Stanford Achievement Test (SAT)

A norm-referenced test that is administered in grades 6, 7, & 8 in the areas of Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies during the spring.

Georgia Middle Grades Writing Assessment

Administered in January to eighth grade students to compare their writing skills with other eighth grade students in Georgia.

Criterion Reference Competency Test (CRCT)

A curriculum-based assessment administered to 6^th and 8^th graders in the areas of reading, language arts, and math during the Spring of 2001.

A curriculum-based assessment administered to 6, 7, & 8 grades in the areas of reading, language arts, math, science, and social studies during the Spring of 2002.

Differential Aptitude Test (DAT)

Administered to 7^th grade students in the spring.

Features two levels that collectively measure aptitudes of adolescents

The Career Interest Inventory (CII) helps students explore their interests in careers.

Together the DAT and CII provide an integrated program that can help individuals make wise, realistic decisions about their future.

Basic Literacy Test (BLT)

Tests phonetic and reading comprehension skills in grades 6, 7, & 8.

Students are tested at the beginning, middle, and end of the year to determine progress and mastery in these areas.

Media Center

The Media Center is open to students each day from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Students may visit the Media Center anytime during the day with a signed agenda from their teacher.

In the Media Center students may checkout books and videotapes.  They also have access to:

· periodicals

· Internet

· SIRS Discoverer and Researcher (computer periodical search)

· Electronic Encyclopedias

· Accelerated Reader.

The Media Center sponsors the following activities:

· Accelerated Reader bookstore

· Book Week in November

· Book Fair once a year

· Recognition of top readers

· Reading celebrations

· Library Week in April

· Trivia contest

· Highlights of student achievement

Technology

Ware County Middle School currently has three computer labs.  Each classroom has at least two computers for students and every classroom has Internet access with E-mail capabilities. Additionally, the media center is equipped with an electronic circulation system and computer research tools.

The Technology Lab consists of ten learning modules.  These computer modules teach students a range of techniques that include electronic lathe, robotics, and video production. The keyboarding lab is a connection class that enables students to learn or improve word processing skills.  Our newest lab funded through the Technology Literacy Challenge Grant provides us with a 25-station computer learning center.  This learning center features Middle School InTech software.  This learning center will allow teachers to integrate technology into the Quality Core Curriculum taught at WCMS.

Extracurricular Activities

Students at Ware County Middle School have many choices for extracurricular activities.

Academic Bowl Competition	Art Exhibitions	Band
Chorus	Geography Bee	Y Club
Georgia Quiz Bowl	Miss Ware Middle Contest	Pep Band
National Junior Honor Society	Science Fair	Science Olympiad
Social Science Fair	Spelling Bee	Talent Shows
Weight Lifting	Georgia Math League	Yearbook Staff