On my first day of teaching in 1976 on West Trinity Lane in Nashville, the room was arranged, my lesson was well prepared, the materials were ready, and I was on my way to educating students. At first, I had my students’ attention, but one by one their minds and bodies began to wander. They moved around the room, began talking to each other, and one actually left the room without permission. I just stood there without a clue about what to do. I did not want to hurt feelings, raise my voice, or create a negative learning environment.
After about 20 minutes of chaos, my principal stopped in to check on me. She instantly brought order to the class and finished the lesson so I could pull myself back together. Afterwards, we had a discussion about classroom management. I told her I loved my students and did not want to upset them in any way. She frankly defined loving students for me. Love has order, the students’ respect, discipline, a well-planned lesson, and an acute awareness of every student’s needs.
Since then I have spent the last sixteen years defining love at CPA. It looks different with every student, teacher, and parent. That is why I am so blessed to be a part of what God is doing at CPA.
Rhonda W. Smith
Middle School Principal
Sustainable Passage
Each spring we take stock of what is happening in middle school and ask ourselves, “So, what?” It is not the casual, castoff phrase; it is the place in the journey where we are asking, “So, what have we done…what does it mean…where are we headed…what about the middle school is sustainable?” The concept of sustainable includes nurturing, supporting, and keeping on. In many ways, the journey through middle school is one that requires sustainable goals and practices, even as we navigate waters of educational change.
Nurture signifies the critical importance of how we work with a student’s mind in middle school. These are the years of greatest brain growth. What is attaching through repeated practice is sticking. What is not being practiced is being pruned away to make room for thoughts, ideas, images, and sounds that stake a claim in a middle school student’s brain. As teachers, we work daily to sustain what is academically important and mentally worthy.
Faculty support is life sustaining for a middle school student. How can a 14-year-old girl even think about pre-algebra or Shakespeare if she left the car arguing with a parent? Or if she feels she has no real friends? Teachers and staff work with students through those times so the student can confront the ‘main concern’ issues. Only after those issues are addressed can academic goals resurface and the student move on.
As an 8th grade teacher, I observe students who will work for a while, then just stop. For whatever reason, the student has decided, “As far as I’m concerned, I’ve done enough today.” Academically, to encourage the importance of keeping on, teachers must generate many entry points to the student’s mind. The three-pronged focus of 21st-century learning is project orientation, global exposure, and technology implementation. Those terms summarize well the constructs that will mediate a lost and fallen world our children will inherit. God provides us with sophisticated tools and a shrinking world so we can join Him in His Kingdom work. Stopping will not be an option; it never has been for Christians.
So, what? For middle school teachers and staff, nurturing, supporting, and keeping on through academics (and whatever else God sends us) are our goals for 2007-2008. In words with which you should be familiar by now – Equip with knowledge, Lead with wisdom, Live in truth.
Sandra L. Keown,
Director of Middle School Academics
Journey thru Middle School
The words penned by the Beatles, “The long and winding road that leads to your door…,” although not written with middle schoolers in mind, can certainly apply to their journey, as they wind through this exciting and challenging time towards the door that Christ has in mind for them. As we walk with them, we embrace the trials that lead to perseverance and growth, and we celebrate the victories that encourage and motivate. Following are excerpts from some of our middle schoolers’ journeys.
My first day at CPA was a bit nerve racking, but nonetheless exciting. I met an awesome group of girls and we are still good friends even now. Though CPA did take some adjusting to, I discovered that I loved it and especially the caring and personable teachers. The teachers at CPA are some of the best I have ever had through my entire academic and athletic careers. Seventh grade came with much more essay writing and staying up late to finish loads of homework, as well as more growth with my friends and my spiritual walk with God. I discovered how little I appreciated all the people and things around me. All the classes, Bible in particular, have assisted me in growing more in my faith and walk with the Lord. I am now starting my eighth grade year. I already like my subjects, teachers, and all the amazing opportunities I have with the school and more importantly, with Christ. The teachings, lessons, and experiences have truly made me a better Christian and have taught me to have a personal relationship with the Lord. — Dorsey Hoskins, 8th grade
My journey through middle school begins at CPA. I’m new so that means adjusting, making new friends, and getting to know everything. So far my journey is going smoothly, but I know that school will get harder and the journey will get tough. I’m learning more each day how to open my heart to Christ. I love all my friends, teachers, and classmates. I don’t want this journey to ever stop. — Katherine Schofield, 7th grade
Going through middle school is comparable to climbing Mt. Everest. In sixth grade you are at the foothills traveling up to the base camp. On that part of the climb, everything is awesome because you started a new challenge. Once you’re at the base camp, you have made it to seventh grade. This journey is horrible because you aren’t at the top, and it’s steeper and harder to climb through the pages of homework. The joy of the adventure comes back to you when you make it to the high camp, which is 8th grade. Not only is the worst part over, but also now you can see the end. Finally, you realize made it to the top! As you climb to the top, the sense of exhilaration increases because you know you will be rewarded for doing your best. Just like climbing a mountain, making it through middle school is rewarding in itself. — Jacob Franz, 8th grade
Middle School — it might as well be a ferocious covered jungle. There are herds, caves, obstacles, predators, and all the other wonders of somewhere unknown. Sixth grade is when you are the new kid. You’re fresh meat and you don’t know what to expect. Now seventh grade, that is a different story. You have a small amount of power, and you’ve started to get your bearings. In seventh grade you have groups of friends (herds) and the predators (8th graders and teachers) are beginning to ease up. Eighth grade is at the top of the middle school, the peak of the mountain. Eighth graders are the kings of the jungle, they have the power. Of course the moment you get out of the eighth grade you get right back to the beginning. You’re the fresh meat again. It’s the cycle of life. You climb your way to the top, but eventually, you have to get to a new level and be the weakest link again. You can’t really avoid it, but you can have fun doing it. — Lydia Granered, 7th grade
The essence of my trek through middle school is memories, pure, delightful memories that warm to the core by instantaneous thought. What is the inexplicable enigma of middle school? It is joy, accompanied by the sensations of growth and leadership. — Jim Clarke, 8th grade
My journey through middle school has been great. Last year was my first year to attend CPA. I’ve met many new awesome friends, and have great teachers. Right now I’m having fun playing football on the middle school team. In middle school we go on great field trips, and every year the trips get better. My journey has already been amazing, and I am not even finished with middle school yet. — Chris Charles, 7th grade
