Education, real estate, Schools, Stamford, Uncategorized

It’s All About Journey… Magnet Schools: Scofield Magnet Middle School

Scofield Magnet Middle School (SMMS) is one of 5 middle schools in Stamford, and continues the magnet philosphy found in the elementary schools. Admission to Scofield is through a lottery process and offers an innovative program of educational choices through theme-based instruction.

SMMS is located on Scofieldtown Rd in the heart of North Stamford, at the former UCONN Stamford campus.

Each grade consists of 2-3 Teams with approximately 100 students each Students travel with the same group for all three years at Scofield which bonds them into a family type atmosphere.

Scofield was founded as a magnet middle school with an emphasis on science, technology and math. The goal of the Magnet Middle School is to involve students in a learning partnership with the school, home, and community in order to insure success for all students. The Magnet Middle School is comprised of sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students and is based on the following beliefs; high standards for all
students, trust, respect, and collaboration. The school philosophy is that students need to learn to think critically, master an appropriate
body of knowledge in new and unfamiliar settings, and to develop a constant desire to learn something new if they are to succeed in their adult lives. The students acquire an appreciation for science as a critical inquiry across the subject areas so they are able to have the necessary skills for employment. The staff and parents work collaboratively on ensuring the success for all the students. The curriculum is delivered mainly through interdisciplinary topics and project usually with heterogeneous and homogeneous groupings of students. Teams of teachers are responsible for scheduling and grouping students within blocks of time. Assessment of students is an ongoing process. Evaluative measures used by the teachers are observations, portfolios, performance-based assessment, and testing.

One of the unique programs at SMMS is Exhibition. It is the culminating activity for SMMS students where they are required to demonstrate the skills mastered during the middle school years by preparing a multi-faceted Exhibition at the end of the eighth grade. They will choose a particular technology and thoroughly investigate it. This leads to in-depth student presentations made to teachers, classmates, parents, and community. All SMMS students are required to complete the Exhibition and are guided through the whole process: the research, scheduling & time management and presentation with visual & creative pieces.

“In its original form, the Exhibition is the public expression by a student of real command over what he or she has learned.”

–Theodore Sizer, Chairman of the Coalition of Essential Schools

Scofield offers a unique environment for both independent and cohesive learning.

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CT, Education, Schools, Stamford, Uncategorized

It’s All About Journey … Magnet Schools: Rogers International School

Rogers Internation School (RIS) is located a mile from Long Island Sound and built on an existing urban brownfield site which was formerly an R&D facility for Proctor and Gamble. RIS is an inter-district magnet school for PreK-8th grade servicing students from Stamford and surrounding towns with a focus on environmental studies.

This urban school has received multiple awards including the LEED Silver Certification, AIA Connecticut Design Award and the CT Green Building Council Most Intriguing Institutional Award.

The green building, which is integrated into the school’s curriculum, also teaches an awareness of the students’ connection to the earth and their responsibility to care for it.

The design creates a vibrant sense of place and demonstrates ecological stewardship through its four prominent environmental demonstration components: a large intensive green roof for educational use; a rain garden demonstrating the natural filtration process; a rain and stormwater collection system; and wind turbine demonstrating ‘free energy’.

RIS is a community with active volunteers – The Green Team and The Green Action Squad, The Community Pantry. The Green Team is a group of volunteers who are interested in maintaining the unique environmental features of the school. They work closely with The Green Action Squad which consists mostly of 3rd & 4th graders. The children develop their own projects based on environmental interests. In the past they have developed programs to educate their peers about recycling, tick identification, and birds on our campus. The Community Pantry is set up to support Roger’s families by providing supplemental groceries. Collections are accepted all year long.

RIS is an authorized participant in the world renowned International Baccalaureate World School working with students in Kindergarten through 8th Grade. The school offers the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and IB Middle Years Programme (MYP). In 2007, the International School at Rogers Magnet received the Lone Pine First Annual Fairfield Academic Gain Award.

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), founded in 1968, is a nonprofit educational organization based in Geneva, Switzerland which provides a broad and challenging education. The programs enable students to acquire important academic skills and to develop an international perspective and a commitment to their communities.

There are three programs:

The Primary Years Program (PYP) for students aged 3 to 12. Click here for more information.

The Middle Years Program (MYP) for students aged 11 to 16. Click here for more information.

The Diploma Program (DP) for students in the final two years of school before university which we will cover when we take a look at the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering (AITE).

The 2018-19 lottery for this, and other magnet schools, can be accessed through the Stamford Public Schools website after the 2017-18 school year has begun.

For a tour of the school, or to answer any questions on Rogers, or any of the Stamford Schools feel free to contact me.

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CT, Education, real estate, Schools, Stamford, Uncategorized

It’s All About The Journey … Your Neighborhood School Profile: Rippowam Middle School

The school derived its name from the Native American tribe that inhabited Stamford and the surrounding area before European settlement.

Located on High Ridge Rd, at the center of the City of Stamford, Rippowam Middle School has an interesting history. The school opened in the fall of 1961 as the second high school in the city.-Go Warriors!, (Baseball star Bobby Valentine was a standout football & baseball athlete and I went there too!). The high school remained open until 1983.

It’s building has served different educational age groups over the years. The building has been used for adult education, and was the home for the Magnet Middle School before the school moved to Scofieldtown Rd and was a temporary location for the Hart Elementary School.

The campus became the site of Rippowam Middle School in 2001.
The Academy of Information Technology and Engineering (AITE), a regional magnet high school shared the building with Rippowam Middle School until August 2007, when it moved to its own building behind Rippowam.

Rippowam is an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) school. IB program is founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1968, the IB offers high quality programs of international education to a worldwide community of schools. There are three key concepts of the IB program used to plan the curriculum:

Holistic Learning: Teachers work together to design interdisciplinary unit planning, leading students to see learning as interrelated.
Intercultural: Students learn about their own culture and society as they learn about others.
Community: Rules and Regulations for students are shared with parents and the community. Rippowam supports inquiry, reflection and expression in multiple forms, and promotes community and global awareness.

The Connecticut State Department of Education recently awarded the prestigious 21st Century Community Learning grant s to the Rippowam Middle School. The grant is intended to help students through the use of science-based practices and extended learning time. Rippowam is to receive $807,500 over the next five years, the money is intended to serve 110 students per year.

Rippowam has a large, well-equipped auditorium and is home to its own drama group. High School Musical 2 is announced as their 2017 production. Rippowam also hosted for All School Musical several years, presenting the young talents from every school in the city.

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CT, Education, real estate, Schools, Stamford, Uncategorized

It’s All About The Journey … Your Neighborhood School Profile: Dolan Middle School

Dolan Middle School was founded in 1948 (the year the first polaroid camera went on sale!), and is located on the border of Springdale and Glenbrook. Dolan has evolved over the years from a traditional junior high to its more recent middle school curriculum model. Like the City of Stamford, the school is diverse in its racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic student population. Many students have more than one language spoken at home, and a high percentage have one hour of Spanish instruction included in their daily schedule.

Dolan offers numerous programs – The Scholar Academy, Dolan DASH afterschool program to name a few. There is upcoming production of “Shrek the Musical Jr.”, Dolan Baseball Team is City Champion 2016. Go Raiders!

Students participating in the Dolan DASH program will receive academic support and homework help in literacy and math, then break into enrichment clusters of their choice.

The mission of Dolan Middle School is to educate all students to the fullest extent of their individual talents and abilities. To that end, they provide a safe, nurturing environment that fosters social, emotional, and physical health. The school’s instruction focuses on the acquisition of skills necessary for students to become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and communicators in our rapidly changing technological society. By personal example, and in partnership with family and community, they encourage lifelong learning, appreciation for diversity and respect for all.

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