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Registration Information / Middle School Boundary FAQs
WLWV Middle School Boundaries and Choice Schools
How are middle school boundaries (adopted during the 2016-17 school year) different from the past?
The addition of Meridian Creek Middle School in 2017-18 means the West Linn-Wilsonville School District now has four middle schools instead of three. Note that students who live within the boundary of some primary schools are assigned to a specific middle school while others have a choice between two middle schools.
I see that three primary schools (Stafford, Bolton, Cedaroak Park) are labeled as Choice Schools. What does that mean?
This means that fifth-grade children who live in these attendance areas can choose between two middle schools as they transition to sixth grade. Note that choice schools apply to fifth-grade students who LIVE in that school’s attendance area.
- Students who live in the Stafford attendance area (not including the Stafford/Boeckman Creek Choice Zone) can go to either Athey Creek or Meridian Creek Middle School.
(Students who live in the Stafford/Boeckman Creek Choice Zone are assigned to Meridian Creek Middle School.)
- Students who live in the Cedaroak Park or Bolton attendance area can go to either Athey Creek or Rosemont Ridge Middle School
Families must indicate their choice before spring break using an Enrollment Intention Form. Each school will send home Enrollment Intention Forms in postal mail. If you do not receive one, contact your school office.
Will there be busing for students who live in Choice School areas?
Yes. Families must fill out an Enrollment Intention form before Spring Break, which each school will send home in postal mail toward the end of February. The form lets the district know which school you wish your child to attend. Getting these forms in right away is important to let the school know you are coming so that they can create schedules accordingly.
How long will these Choice Schools last? Will there be changes again next year in 2019-20?
With the middle school boundary process now complete, these boundary changes will stay in place until the next school is built in the district, or until it’s determined that any boundary adjustments are needed.
That includes choice schools. Boundaries are routinely evaluated to see how they are meeting the enrollment trends at each school.
Enrollment Plans for 2019-20
How can parents tell the district—or, how will the district know—where our child will go to school next year, especially since there are choice zones?
Your fifth grade students will receive an Enrollment Intention Form to fill out and return prior to Spring Break. This informs the district where your child plans to attend next year. Each school will send home Enrollment Intention Forms in postal mail. If you do not receive yours, contact the school office.
Is there a timeline for when we need to decide where our child will go next year?
Yes, if you live in a choice school area. Enrollment Intention forms must be turned in before Spring Break. This is especially critical for students who live in Choice School attendance areas (Cedaroak Park, Bolton, Stafford). After spring break, the district will assign a school that has more space to an incoming student who lives in a choice school area.
Transition
Where will my fifth-grader (incoming sixth-grader) go to school next year?
Your incoming sixth-grader will go into their assigned middle school.
Last year, my children who were already in middle school were given the choice to remain at that school and we received Enrollment Intention Forms for them as well. Will we be receiving those again?
No, we will be sending Enrollment Intention Forms ONLY to current fifth graders. We expect current sixth and seventh grade students to remain at the school where they are currently enrolled. If there is a desire to change middle school enrollment, in-district students can apply for such a request. If you move out of the Rosemont Ridge Middle School attendance area, but remain inside the district borders, you will attend your new attendance boundary middle school. For the 2018-19 school year, Rosemont Ridge Middle School remains closed to all In-District transfers.
TRANSFERS: In-District Residents
I heard that Rosemont Ridge Middle School is “closed” to transfers next year, 2018-19.
What does that mean?
Only students who live in attendance areas assigned to Rosemont Ridge may attend there (Trillium Creek, Sunset). Students who live in Choice School attendance areas (Cedaroak Park, Bolton) may also attend Rosemont Ridge but must get their choice in for Rosemont Ridge PRIOR to spring break to attend. Students in these choice schools who enroll AFTER Spring Break will go to Athey Creek where there is more space. For 2018-19, Rosemont Ridge Middle School remains closed to all transfers.
I currently live in the district, but I’d like my child to go to a different middle school than the one assigned to where we live. Can I apply for a transfer?
Yes, you may apply for an in-district transfer for your student to attend a different middle school than your residence school. Rosemont Ridge, however, is closed to all transfers. This means only applications to Athey Creek, Meridian Creek, and Wood Middle Schools are available.
TRANSFERS: Out-of-District Residents
I live outside of the school district.
My child is attending a WLWV primary school through Open Enrollment/Inter-District Transfer approval. What school will my student attend next year for sixth grade?
Students attending our primary schools as out-of-district transfers will attend the middle schools that have more space:
- Out of district students attending Boeckman Creek, Boones Ferry or Stafford Primary Schools may attend Inza R. Wood or Meridian Creek Middle Schools.
- Out of district students attending Bolton, Cedaroak Park, Sunset or Willamette Primary Schools may attend Athey Creek, Inza R. Wood or Meridian Creek Middle Schools.
- Note: Lowrie and Trillium Creek Primary Schools are not mentioned because they have been, and remain, closed to all transfers.
I live outside of the school district. My current sixth or seventh grade student is already attending a WLWV middle school through Open Enrollment/Inter-District Transfer approval.
Can my child finish middle school where he/she is currently attending?
Yes, your student may finish seventh and eighth grade at his/her current middle school.
Additional Questions?
If you have a question regarding middle school boundaries or transfers, please feel free to contact:
Kelly Douglas, Superintendent’s Office
503.673.7034
[email protected]
Moving to Middle School (for Kids)
Is it good to be in the middle? Sometimes it’s not, like when you’re in the middle seat on a long car ride. But sometimes it is, like when you’re in the middle of a great movie. What will happen next?
Middle school is a little bit like that. It’s called middle school because it’s in the middle of your school years. Elementary school is behind you. High school and possibly college still await you.
Middle school often includes sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, but you might go to middle school earlier or later, depending on how it’s done in your area.
For a kid, going to middle school often is a big change:
- First, it usually means moving to a new building, which takes some time to adjust to.
- Second, it may mean taking a different bus, with different students.
- Third, the friends you made in elementary school may end up going to different middle schools.
All of that can make you feel a bit scared on the first day of school.
Other things that probably will be different are the teachers and the homework.
Learning New Stuff
Your homework — and the work you do in class — likely will get more challenging, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. You’re growing up and you get to build on all that learning you already did in elementary school. You’ll also probably be learning some new and different stuff in middle school — like foreign languages, more advanced courses in technology, music and art, health, and life skills, such as cooking.
On top of that, middle school will probably offer a variety of new teams, clubs, and activities you can join.
Maybe you love lacrosse, ceramics, or jazz music. You might find chances to do all three at middle school.
Still worried about middle school? Let’s talk about how to make the move easier!
Visit more than once. Most middle schools have orientation day for students who will go there in the fall. Orientation (say: or-ee-en-TAY-shun) is a day when you tour the school and get a little information about what it will be like to go there. Another great way to do this is to attend a concert or sporting event at your new school. And talk to friends who already go there. Ask them about any problems they had. Also ask if they could help you if you need it when you get there. It’s cool to have an older kid as a friend at your new school!
It also might help if your parent drove you to the school in the summertime. You might see sports teams practicing outside and just get a sense of the place. It’s also good to get an idea of where it is in your area. Is it over near the mall or on the other side of town?
Prepare for Day 1.
Read any materials you get at orientation or that arrive by mail or email over the summer. Are there books you need to read or supplies you have to buy? You’ll also want to figure out what time school starts and what time the bus will pick you up, if you take one. Then you can decide what time you’ll need to wake up. You also might want to find out when your lunch is. If it’s later than usual, you might want to pack a snack. Also, think about what you’ll wear. Choose something that you like and feel comfortable in. If you’ll be wearing a uniform, try it on to see that all the pieces fit and that they feel good.
Get to bed on time the night before! Try to get a good night’s sleep — even if you’re so excited you don’t think you can sleep. It really helps to get on a good sleep schedule weeks before school starts. That way, you not only get enough sleep, but get used to a regular bedtime and wake-up time. The night before school starts, lay out all your stuff so you don’t forget anything.
Set your alarm, but tell your mom or dad when you need to get up in case you sleep right through it!
On the big day, eat breakfast and be brave. Breakfast might seem skippable if you’re in a major hurry, but don’t cut it out. You’ll feel terrible by mid-morning, just when you need your energy and brain power to navigate your new school. Have something to eat on the car or bus, even if it’s small — it can help your day get off to a good start.
On your way out the door, take everything you need and try to remember that this is a big adventure. You might get lost in the halls. Oh, well, it’s your first day! Check in with friends you know and try to be brave and say “hi” to other new kids. Don’t know the kid with the locker next to yours? Say “hello.” You’ll be seeing a lot of each other this year!
In class, listen to what the teacher says and take notes because it’s hard to remember everything. Try to write down the important stuff — like your locker combination and your homeroom number.
Then you can look it over when you get home and be prepared for Day 2.
On Day 2, repeat. On the second day, do everything you did on Day 1. Hopefully, things are starting to go a little more smoothly. Keep checking your notes. It might help to look over your class schedule at home so you start to memorize that math follows English and science follows gym, but only on Tuesdays!
After 1 week, pat yourself on the back. When you’ve been at your school for a whole week, it’s time to give yourself a round of applause. You’ve probably taken in a lot of new information — all in a short time. You probably know your locker combination, where your assigned seat is in all your classes, where the bathrooms are, and how to get to the cafeteria. Do you still get lost on the way to gym? If so, find a buddy who goes to gym at the same time and walk together.
Solving Problems Beyond Week 1
If you find you’re having trouble with schoolwork or friends, don’t panic but do get help.
Just like in elementary school, ask the teacher for extra help after class if you don’t understand something you’re learning. You also might have study halls in middle school — these free periods are great for talking to a teacher or getting a jump on your homework.
Also talk to your mom or dad or other adult at home if you’re having trouble with your classes. It could be that you’re just a little rusty after that long summer. But if your problems don’t go away, you’ll want to talk to the teacher and maybe a school counselor.
When it comes to friends, the switch to a new school can leave you feeling a little dizzy. What if your best friend isn’t in any of your classes and you never see them? Or if none of your friends go to your school? Middle school is a good time to make new connections and new friends.
Sometimes, it’s easy to make a new friend. You might meet the first day and then hang out all year long. But it also can go more slowly, especially if it seems like a lot of kids are already hanging out together in groups that don’t include you.
Let someone know how it’s going for you. Talk to your mom, dad, another trusted adult, or a school counselor if you’re feeling lonely and it’s not getting any better.
You might wonder what you can do to feel less lonely and make friends. Here’s something: Try joining a club, sport, or activity. It’s a great way to get to know kids you don’t know yet. Being in these groups also can help you feel more at home at your school. By next year, you’ll be that cool older kid who’s helping out the new kids. If they’re lost on the way to the gym, please show them the way!
Reviewed by: Kathryn Hoffses, PhD
Date reviewed: August 2022
Black Rock Middle School Update
Welcome to our Black Rock Middle School Newsletter! Our plan is to send this out periodically between now and the school’s opening in September 2022. We’ll share information about all the exciting developments related to Black Rock including construction updates, curriculum planning and more.
We hope you’ll not only read the newsletter, but forward it to your friends and neighbors who might not receive it directly. Our new school will benefit not only its students, but the wider community of Lower Merion and Narberth. And we want as many residents involved in the process as possible. If you have any ideas or questions you’d like answered in an upcoming edition, please feel free to email me, Amy Buckman, Director of School and Community Relations, at [email protected].
- View the Fall 2019: Volume I Newsletter
- View the Winter 2020: Volume II Newsletter
- View the Winter 2021: Volume III Newsletter
- View the Summer 2021: Volume IV Newsletter
- View the December 2021: Volume V Newsletter
- View the Spring/Summer 2022: Volume VI Update
Meet Our Ambassadors
While the new middle school is an exciting project for the Lower Merion School District and the entire community, it’s most exciting for those students who will be lucky enough to attend Black Rock Middle School.
With the help of Principals Shawn Bernatowicz, Veronica Ellers, Amy Jenkins and Christopher, we’ve selected some of those students as our Black Rock Middle School Ambassadors.
The ambassadors are featured in our BRMS Updates, and have had opportunities to visit the construction site, sign the Topping Off beam and lead their classmates in voting for the school’s mascot (The Royals) and colors (black and gold with a purple accent). As the September 2022 opening approaches, they’ll continue to share their excitement about their new school with their classmates and the community.
FAQs
- Why is LMSD building a new middle school?
- Which students will go to the new school and how were they selected?
- How will grades be transitioned into the new school?
- Will the new school have its own HSA?
- What will the new middle school look like?
- The new school looks great – but what about BCMS and WVMS students? Will they get to experience any of the new school’s features?
A: Demographic studies show that our District’s student population is expected to continue to increase in coming years, due to housing turnover, additional apartments, decreasing private-school enrollment and other factors.
Our existing six elementary schools and two middle schools are reaching maximum capacity. The new middle school will alleviate crowding at the elementary schools by moving fifth grade out of the elementary buildings and will alleviate crowding at the middle schools by spreading the middle school population among three buildings instead of two.
A: The feeder schools for the new middle school will be Penn Wynne Elementary School and Gladwyne Elementary School. Gladwyne was selected because the new middle school is in its catchment. Penn Wynne was selected because all Penn Wynne students already take buses to middle school. The other elementaries all have students who walk to either BCMS or WVMS and it wouldn’t make sense to bus students to a farther middle school when they can walk to a closer one.
A: As of now, 5th and 6th grades will definitely attend the new school when it opens in September 2022. The Administration and School Board are currently reviewing various scenarios – considering student numbers and transportation costs among other issues – to determine if that might change to include grades 5-7, or even grades 5-8.
We’ll be sure to let you know once that decision is finalized.
A: Absolutely! And any interested parents/guardians from Penn Wynne and Gladwyne whose children will be attending the new school are encouraged to get involved. Please email Kristy [email protected] or Michele [email protected] for Gladwyne or Amy [email protected] for Penn Wynne and let them know you’re interested. We’re hoping to get volunteers from both schools together soon to start planning events such as student mixers, so students from both schools can make new friends.
Artist rendering of the exterior of the new middle school.
A: These illustrations show the architects’ vision of the school’s exterior and also of a “learning community.” The finishes shown for the outside may change, but the concept of a main entrance, close to the public areas – the gymnasium and theater – is set. The school will also feature a “heart” area, where students can congregate to socialize and collaborate.
And traditional single classrooms will be replaced by “learning communities,” which are flexible spaces that can be used for large-group team teaching, small group instruction or student collaboration.
Bird’s eye view of a floor plan depicting the layout of a “Learning Community.”
A: The new school will reduce the student populations in the two existing middle schools. That will allow space at BCMS and WVMS to be reimagined and reconfigured to better support team teaching, smaller group instruction and collaboration. Teachers at the existing schools are already innovatively using space in their buildings in support of these concepts and will have input in how existing spaces can be updated and adapted.
School in Germany – How German Schoolchildren Learn
Peculiarities of education in German schools. How to get into university after graduation. Subjects, lessons and holidays.
German children are required to attend classes
Germany has a law that obliges children to study and go to school.
In most states, little burghers must complete at least 9 classes. Having reached the age of majority, the Germans get the opportunity to decide for themselves whether to study further or not. Until then, school cannot be avoided. If a child does not show up for class for no reason, the showdown will be severe.
Foreigners often do not know this detail of the German education system. In the old fashioned way, parents leave the child at home if they are sick without going to the doctor and without receiving a certificate. And then they are very surprised when a policeman appears at the door and asks to immediately collect the child to school.
Germany is a federal country. The training policy is determined at the state level. The rules of attendance are fixed in the regional law obliging to attend school in Germany. It also determines the age of admission to the first class and fines for omissions.
School holidays in Germany
German schools do not go on holidays at the same time .
The time of the German summer holidays is determined several years in advance at a special conference at the Federal Ministry of Culture with the participation of representatives from each state.
The rest of the rest periods for schoolchildren of the land are determined independently and the schedule is reported to the ministry.
Therefore, it only makes sense to search for a holiday schedule with reference to the federal state at the request of the Ferienkalender.
Lands divided into 5 groups:
- Brandenburg, Berlin, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schleswig-Holstein.
- Bremen, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia.
- North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saar.
- Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria.
The start of summer holidays in one group is synchronized. Between groups, on the contrary, the date differs.
The meaning of this “floating” schedule is to prevent the maximum load on the highways in the country when the parents of schoolchildren go on vacation on the first day of vacation.
The fifth group always ends the school year last due to religious specifics. The presence of a short break on the feast of Pentecost does not allow leaving earlier, otherwise the students would not get enough time to prepare for the exams after the break.
The school holiday system is built on the principle of “better more often, but shorter”. Breaks between vacations are usually three to five weeks, lasting from a week to two months in summer. Given that in Germany the law does not allow leaving a child at home alone without supervision, one of the parents often has to work part-time.
Grundschule – elementary school
There are 15,500 primary schools in Germany. Education for the Germans starts from 5-6 years. Until then, children usually go to kindergarten.
The first stage of training is called Grundschule . This period lasts four years in 14 federal states. In Berlin and Brandenburg – six years.
As a rule, the first classes are organized for one-year-olds.
But there is an experimental model of collaborative learning in the first and second. If the school has few first-graders, it is also allowed to mix classes.
German children go to the first lesson with surprises in cone-shaped packages.
German tradition for first graders – Schuhltüte
Traditionally, the Germans send children to the first grade in an embrace with a large bright paper cone-shaped bag . Along with a brand new satchel, a Schultüte is a must-have for a child’s first day of school.
The purpose of the package is to celebrate and sweeten the transition from kindergarten to school.
It is considered correct to make a cone with your own hands. Then the result will be more original. But the purchase is not forbidden.
The shape and colors are important, but the content is much more important. In the strictest confidence in shultyute put:
- Pencil case – Federmäppchen.
- Handles – Kugelschreiber.
- Pencils – Bleistift.
- Sharpener – Bleistiftspitzer.
- Stirka – Radiergummi.
- Markers – Filzstift.
- Scissors – Schere.
- Linear.
- Glue stick – Kleber.
- Watercolors – Tuschkasten.
In addition, it is not forbidden to put gifts, balloons and, of course, sweets. A plush animal settles on top, if there is room left.
Primary school in Germany lasts 4-6 years and often ends with the division of children according to ability.
Primary school education
The daily routine depends on the type of school. Common 2 formats:
- Volle Halbtagsschule – “half day” schools, when the daily curriculum from 8:00 to 13:00 contains the same number of lessons. Extracurricular activities are added to the compulsory program, when the student himself decides which subject to attend.
- Verlässliche Grundschule – extension schools. Classes are planned based on the requirements of the school curriculum, and the rest of the time is filled with circles, sections, walks.
Specific formats in different states vary greatly. Compulsory lessons are free of charge and additional lessons often have to be paid extra. Prices depend on the city, the number of children and the income of parents.
Lessons are taught by teachers, and the rest of the time the children are usually looked after by workers who cost the school less. This is the advantage of schools with a compulsory program – parents do not have to pay extra for an extension.
The elementary school curriculum includes mathematics, German and classes united by the term Sachunterricht – a cognitive lesson. The latter contains knowledge in five main areas:
- socio-cultural,
- natural science,
- historical,
- technical,
- geographical.
In fact, children receive basic knowledge about the world around them. It’s just that instead of separate subjects like history, geography, natural history, the cognitive part is taught within the framework of a single concept.
The program teaches meaningfully:
- reading,
- spelling,
- spelling,
- memorization,
- basic arithmetic,
- Fundamentals of Geometry,
- understanding clocks and time,
- physical, chemical and biological basic knowledge,
- history of the city and region,
- participation in road traffic as a pedestrian in the first class and as a cyclist in the third-fourth,
- elements of the policy and history of the state,
- democratic and social competence.
Optional teaching:
- music,
- drawing,
- sports,
- computer and media literacy.
In addition to the main program, ethical, religious or cultural classes specific to a particular school are offered as optional or voluntary-compulsory courses.
The peculiarity of the German 4th grade is the first lessons of sexual education. For immigrants, this phenomenon often becomes a culture shock.
At elementary grades , the main subjects are taught by Klassenlehrer – class teacher . He leads the class to the next level of German education.
Secondary school education in Germany
At the end of elementary school, each student receives a recommendation from the form teacher or through a complex system of academic records that has a key bearing on the prospects for a good education.
After the fourth (or sixth) grade, German children move on to one of two learning paths in the German education system: Sekundarstufe 1 or 2.
Taking into account the peculiarities of the lands, wilds begin from here. Here there is confusion in the names and gradations, which is very difficult to understand.
Able students who have been assigned to the second level choose between a gymnasium and a general school.
In the German gymnasium, the child gets the maximum chance for realization in life.
Gymnasium
Gymnasium – an advanced school, education in which ends with a certificate for admission to any German university – Hochschulreife or Abitur .
The student gets the opportunity to choose any specialty if the grades allow to overcome the competition of the average scores of the higher educational institution Numerus Clausus.
From the 5th grade, serious foreign language classes begin, usually English.
From the seventh choice appears in priorities:
- Mathematics and natural science gymnasiums focus on mathematics, physics, biology and chemistry.
- Languages add Latin and French, Spanish or Italian to the 9th.
- Humanities along with Latin allows you to learn ancient Greek.
Social and economic directions are given less frequently. There are also gymnasiums with a bias in art, music or sports.
The high level of teaching at the gymnasium and the choice of directions allows the child to be well prepared for the future. Abitur opens the door to university admission or can be used as a starting point for any secondary vocational education.
Abitur can also be obtained after graduating from other types of schools, but it is more difficult to do this, because the knowledge required for admission to a German university is simply not taught to students.
Obtaining an Abitur in Germany is equivalent to obtaining a matriculation certificate. The Germans vigorously celebrate the end of school, sometimes going with the whole class to a European resort. It is also customary to buy the first car and driver’s license by the end of the gymnasium.
Gesamtschule
The modern advanced German school rejects segregation and insists on the need for co-education. Like, you never know when a child’s talent will erupt and in what direction. Therefore, it is necessary to give children more knowledge for as long as possible in order to use the chance to show their genius.
General schools are recruited regardless of recommendations.
At first, everyone studies in the same program. By the seventh grade, depending on the performance in mathematics, German and English, the course begins to change in two or three levels:
- Förderkurs – lessons for the underachievers.
- Grundkurs is the main program.
- Erweiterungskurse extra lessons for the successful.
A student who excels in an advanced math course may find himself underperforming in English.
In the 9th grade, specialization in a professional direction begins. The student chooses, for example, between computer science, electrical engineering, languages, and so on.
You can finish a decade and go to get a profession. For those who wish and achievers, the path to the enrollment in 11-13 years of study is open.
Public schools allow children who did not show themselves at an early age to open up. There is more time here for orientation in one’s own priorities. As a result, a student can complete the secondary level of school education with Hochschulreife or Mittlere Reife, without losing the chance of obtaining a diploma immediately after grade 4, if he has not received a recommendation to the gymnasium.
But such schools are not available in every land.
In addition, along with advanced general schools, there are kooperative or additive Gesamtschule, which are immediately divided into classes at the beginning, as if they went to educational institutions of different levels.
An ordinary secondary school in Germany does not guarantee sufficient knowledge.
Hauptschule or Mittelschule
For those with low chances of getting a university diploma, they came up with secondary schools without much workload. This is an endangered species of educational institutions in Germany.
After studying up to the ninth grade, school education can be completed with the lowest possible Hauptschulabschluss certificate. Education allows you to get easy-to-learn working specialties, such as a painter, mechanic, builder, driver, and so on. Therefore, in the main school, children are not loaded with unnecessary knowledge and are taught a practical minimum of basic subjects.
In some Länder it is allowed to take special qualifying examinations for the Qualifizierende Hauptschulabschluss or “Quali” for short.
This allows you to continue your studies in vocational schools and increases the chances of getting into complex working professions, for example, in the field of IT or economics.
A high average score in Quali makes it possible to go to the 10th grade, and from there, thanks to good academic performance, move to enroll in a gymnasium or a general school.
The child will have to show a fair amount of diligence and diligence in order to graduate from high school. But for children without a passion for learning, the option is suitable.
Realschule
For the more gifted of those who have not been sent to the gymnasium, a “real” school is intended. She was conceived as practical alternative to . Here, starting from the sixth grade, children are taught more complex skills.
Until the sixth grade, if school is easy, the child can still go to the gymnasium.
Real school provides secondary education and ends in 10th grade with Realschulabschluss.
Good grades allow you to go to the entrants.
A teacher’s recommendation to transfer to a gymnasium means a lot in the prospects for higher education in Germany.
Importance of recommendation
So far, the concept of Gesamtschule general schools is not generally accepted. Some lands reject the approach completely, others, on the contrary, systematically transfer the process to new tracks.
Therefore, elementary school teachers often actually decide which of the children is able to study at a high level, and who is not recommended to load their heads with unnecessary information. In many lands, the opinion of the class teacher is decisive. Children without a recommendation are not admitted to the gymnasium.
Most often, the decision is made on the basis of estimates. Grades in Germany are put on a six-point system , from 1 to 6. The unit is the best grade , but it is rarely given. It’s like 5+.
In the first two grades, children are usually not graded at all, because the Germans believe that this hinders the development of the child.
Only from the third grade do the first tests begin.
Teachers’ opinions can be biased. This causes scandals and even courts. In recent years, elementary schools have introduced scoring systems that include grades, social aspects, athletic performance, and other parameters. But the subjectivity of teachers still retains a significant influence.
Other factors are also important. Not always a student who has received a recommendation to a gymnasium ends up in it.
Parents of children strongly influence the decision where the child will go next. Not everyone thinks the idea of getting a child a tower is optimal. Usually the poor do not see prospects in their studies and dissuade the student from a complex program. They say, why invent, go in a hauptshule, you will turn the steering wheel like a dad, and play football without straining.
Social ties also play an important role. Often a student suffers because a friend or girlfriend did not receive a recommendation.
It seems tragic to the child to part with a classmate and he refuses prospects in favor of friendship.
Every second child with a migration background in Germany experiences learning problems that are not related to personal motivation.
Problems of children of foreigners
Foreigners in Germany have a hard time. Especially at first, when knowledge of German is still far from a good level. Adults overcome difficulties by focusing on work or household chores. But the children of immigrants have a hard time. You need to adapt to a new country, study the German language, and, in addition, study well at school! If German takes your child by surprise, online courses can help.
It is not possible to do everything at once and well. As a result, academic performance drops, motivation disappears, and parents have an additional headache. In front of a teenager, the prospect of not getting into the gymnasium can stand up to his full height. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), students with a migration background fail the curriculum twice as often as their German peers.
There is no lack of personal motivation among the descendants of migrants. The desire to learn a lesson and get a good mark, on the contrary, is often stronger than among the Germans. But the German education system is not designed for foreigners. Despite the high motivation, the chances of getting a good grade from migrants are lower.
Poor performance reduces self-esteem, deprives the student of satisfaction from the learning process. Migrant children often complain about the difficulties that accompany going to school. In the classroom, foreigners feel isolated from the main group of classmates. Studying does not bring any pleasure.
The most important reason for the problems of children of foreigners is insufficient knowledge of German. First generation migrants speak their native language at home. Many continue to communicate in a family that is not German, even if they were born and raised in Germany.
Parents who are engaged in the process of adaptation no less, and sometimes more than children, have little time.
So, someone else should help the children. Usually the problem is solved by hiring a German teacher in order to quickly master the language. Find a school tutor if your child is having academic problems.
Private schools
There are both public and private schools in Germany. Private much less. Usually they are paid. Public schools are always free for students. Tuition is paid by the state and the land in which the school is located.
Private establishments may be opened by religious communities. Often these schools have an international context. There are also boarding schools for the especially gifted.
Bonus is received by state accredited private schools. Then the standard cost of training is covered from the state budget. Parents pay for additional options or on a voluntary-compulsory basis.
It is important that only accredited private schools have the right to issue a certificate. Otherwise, you have to take exams in another institution with accreditation.
In German religious schools, teaching is conducted with an emphasis on Christianity. Pedagogy is built taking into account the dominant role of religion. Students do not need to believe in God.
The reputation of religious schools has been badly tarnished in recent years. But the quality of education in Christian communities is still high.
International schools operate at embassies, including Russian-speaking ones. Upon request and subject to availability, the child can be placed there. But the training program may not coincide with the German one. The certificate is recognized if the combination of final exams coincides with the enrollment.
Alternative Schools – Montessori and Waldorf
A number of German private institutions are guided by their own ideological and pedagogical principles.
At the Montessori school, lessons are conducted outside the box and are attended at will.
Montessorischule
400 schools teach according to the precepts of Maria Montessori.
Three quarters of them belong to elementary schools. The concept is based on self-determination and independence of the child, taking into account personal preferences and life rhythm.
Children in a Montessori school learn what they like. Classes are divided not by year of birth, but by interests. Teachers help and guide, not force. But at the same time, they must manage to give the necessary amount of knowledge so that students can continue their studies. Calculation on natural curiosity often gives a result. Instead of a rigid schedule, students are free to choose a subject and a teacher.
The Montessori concept relies on the individuality and responsibility of the child himself. For families professing upbringing on similar principles, such schools are ideal. Coercion, criticism and fines are not welcome. But this means that after completing the elementary level, the child will go to a regular school, with a different level of discipline. And you have to go if you want to get a certificate.
Waldorf schools focus on spiritual integrity and mental development.
Waldorfschule
The pedagogy of the Waldorf schools is based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner. The child must come into this world with good will, be brought up in love and remain free.
The school focuses not on the development of the mind and the acquisition of knowledge, but on the spiritual component of life. Children are taught music, arts, crafts and gymnastics.
There is no classical curriculum and grades in Waldorf institutions. Therefore, changing schools is problematic. You have to come to terms with the prospect of 12 years of study in one place.
Principles are only suitable for talents in music and other arts. Or in cases where the certificate is not the goal as such, for example, for children with disabilities.
Disabled children in Germany attend special schools.
Schools for the handicapped – Förderschule and Sonderschule
Especially for special children in Germany, there are schools with a small number of students in the class and teachers trained to work with disabled people.
The main goal of the institutions is to enable children with disabilities to study, or at least not be confined within the four walls of the house.
According to the directions, special schools are divided into institutions for the mentally and physically disabled. In the latter case, it is possible to obtain a certificate at the Hauptschulabschluss level.
If a child is unable to attend a regular school for health reasons, they will be given a referral to a suitable special school. Government pays for classes and transportation .
The emphasis is on individual preparation for adulthood. If there is hope for integration into society, they try to give the necessary knowledge. When the diagnosis does not allow counting on mental usefulness, they try to concentrate on care and fun.
Integration schools in Germany
The separation of children with disabilities from regular education is often seen as discrimination. Therefore, some standard schools offer integration or inclusive places.
It is expected that through co-education, children with disabilities will receive additional motivation from their classmates, who in return will increase their social competencies.
The specificity of integrative institutions is also a small number of students in the class and intensive supervision by teachers and staff.
Practice shows that success in teaching a disabled child is strongly tied to teachers and classmates. Children with minor disabilities get more opportunities to integrate into normal life.
The modern pace of life in Germany affects children. They are increasingly suffering from mental problems.
German schoolchildren are prone to depression
A recent study showed that in recent years the number of German schoolchildren experiencing stress, anxiety before exams, and depression has increased.
Psychologists believe that competition and the pursuit of achievement put a lot of pressure on children and adolescents.
This entails getting into trouble with friends and writing angry comments on social media. The older the students, the more stress they experience: the number of tasks increases, and the learning material becomes more complicated.
A separate topic is the problems of children of immigrants who suddenly find themselves in an absolutely alien environment after moving, do not understand the language, and with difficulty perform tasks that are simple in the eyes of their peers.
As children grow older, the role of parents in their lives decreases, but relatives are still the main educators and can help in the best way. The first step should be to understand whether the child is coping well with the new demands of school or perhaps needs help.
It is important not only to establish a dialogue with teachers, but also to find ways to eliminate stress triggers for the child. Parents should show the child how he can cope with stressful situations, such as important exams at school.
The student must remain calm and understand that a difficult situation can be solved.
30-07-2020, Stepan Babkin
Schools in Italy: how it works
An eight-hour school day from the first grade, 13 years at the desk and no absenteeism: Europulse learned from the students of Turin and their parents how they study in Italian schools.
Europulse continues a series of publications about school education in European countries (we wrote about how elementary and secondary schools in Spain are arranged here, about Finnish school education and its future – here, and about how they study in a Berlin school , – here).
– Absenteeism? What are walks? I didn’t understand the question,” 11-year-old Davide Rossi looks bewildered. – Ahh, you mean this … Well, someone is truant, but this is rare. It is interesting at school, you can play with friends, – the boy shrugs.
Davide is not one of those children who likes to spend evenings reading books.
He is sociable and active, enjoys wrestling, is popular with girls and will always prefer a walk with friends to watching a popular TV show. So what’s the secret?
How many years do they study in Italian schools and how much time do they spend there every day
The school system in Italy is designed in such a way that children have the opportunity to adapt to the learning process with a minimum of stress. School education consists of 3 levels and is built according to the 5 + 3 + 5 system: five years in elementary school, three in middle school and five in high school.
In Italy, these are 3 different educational institutions: when a child graduates from one of the stages, parents have to choose again which school he will go to study next. At the same time, the student does not need to pass entrance examinations at any of these stages – just enroll in the chosen school.
In total, in order to get a school education, an Italian needs to spend 13 years at a desk.
At the same time, immersion in the educational process occurs gradually:
“Children go to school at the age of 6-7,” says Davide’s mother. – The first six months, first-graders spend no more than 4 hours there. They get to know each other, play, draw… More serious work begins in the second half of the year. Pupils stay at school for 7-8 hours every day, but the tasks are not very difficult, there are a lot of games. We are well aware that the desire to learn is no less important than knowledge of the rules of addition.
An eight-hour school day is the norm for Italian students of all ages. Usually this is 7 lessons and an hour break for lunch (food is sacred for Italians). In addition, younger students can stay on “extension” if the parents do not have time to pick them up immediately after the end of the lessons.
However, some schools give the opportunity to study for 6 hours, compensating for the difference with additional homework. Also, parents can choose whether their child will go to school on Saturdays – this depends on the particular educational institution.
“I loved going to school, even though I wasn’t a straight A student,” said Francesca di Costa, who finished 13th grade last year. – In elementary school, many lessons are held in the form of a game – 8 hours fly by unnoticed. Homework is given only on weekends and can be completed within half an hour. There is more homework in high school, but usually teachers are sympathetic to the fact that you do not succeed in something. I can’t say that it was difficult for us to study.
But high school, she says, is “a completely different story.” This is where efficiency comes into play. Teachers are becoming more demanding, because their main task is to prepare students for entering the university or for work. But the students themselves understand the full measure of responsibility, so they do not complain about the additional workload and homework, the completion of which can take up to 2 hours a day.
There are usually 20-25 students in a class. The duration of a school lesson in Italy is 50 or 55 minutes, and the breaks are short – 5-10 minutes.
According to teachers, this allows children not to be distracted from the educational process.
How much does schooling cost in Italy?
Primary and secondary school education (up to the age of 16) in Italy is compulsory and free. However, public school students pay for textbooks and food, usually 200-300 euros per year. A private school (there are few in Italy, 5-10% of the total) will cost much more – about 1,500 euros per year, because you will also have to pay for your studies.
– They say private schools offer better education, but I think it all depends on the specific school, Davide’s mum says. And if you find a good state one, then your child will be taught no worse than in a private one.
High school in Italy is paid: about 400 euros per year just for studying. At the same time, the cost can be reduced for students from families with low incomes.
After high school, at the age of 14-15, teenagers need to decide on their educational career.
Those who plan to enter universities finish the last 5 classes in lyceums. Italian lyceums are divided into 3 types – classical, technical and natural sciences. If an Italian is not going to get a higher education, then he can unlearn the last 5 years in one of the “institutes” (an analogue of Russian technical schools and colleges).
According to Italians, in order to successfully build one’s career, it is not at all necessary to get a higher education – only 26.9% of the population under 35 have it. Therefore, these Italian institutions are a full-fledged part of the national school system, and many students prefer to finish the last 5 classes in them. After all, graduates of institutes, unlike graduates of lyceums, receive a diploma that gives them the right to work in their specialty immediately after graduating from the 13th grade.
Ordinary and non-ordinary subjects
Italian elementary and secondary school subjects are ordinary: for example, mathematics, reading and music in elementary grades; algebra, geography, Italian and English in high school.
But there is one exception.
Catholic religious studies are taught in all Italian public schools by a priest. But due to the fact that representatives of different faiths live in Italy, these lessons are not required. During religious studies, the student can sit in the next class and go about his business. Or go home on the condition that he comes back for the next lesson.
The high school program is designed in such a way as to provide the student with practical skills that will be useful to him at work (this is done in institutes) or to prepare for entering the university (and this is the task of lyceums):
– In my opinion, it is right that in high school, we study only those subjects that will be useful to us in life, says Francesca, who graduated from the classical lyceum. – This way we are much more motivated and can concentrate on what we really need. Broadening one’s horizons is, of course, good, but few people think about it at the age of 16. Usually teenagers just sit on their phones if they are not interested in the subject.
Grading system and diary
Italian schools have a 10-point grading system, only final exams are evaluated on a 100-point scale. The highest score – “ten” – is rarely given to students. “Eight” and “nine” are considered good grades, and if a student is given five points or less, then his parents have good reason to be excited. “Fives”, “fours” and “triples” received at the end of the academic year must be retaken. In addition, if there are a lot of bad grades (more than three “fives” or at least two “triples”), then they will not be allowed to retake them and the student will have to stay for the second year.
Grades are given in an ordinary paper diary, signed by parents, and in an electronic system. The diary in Italian schools resembles a thick diary with blank pages. One of its main functions, besides recording homework and grading, is communication between teachers and parents. It is not customary to call up parents or talk to them after the end of the lessons in Italian schools, so the main communication takes place on the pages of the diary.
From 1st to 8th grade, diaries are issued in schools, so all students in each school have the same diaries. High school students buy their own diaries, and at school they receive a special book for grading.
School leaving exam grades do not affect whether a student enters university or not. Universities conduct their own entrance examinations, but, as the students themselves say, they are not very difficult, and some faculties can be entered without exams at all. However, the acquired knowledge will be useful to graduates of lyceums while studying at the university, because graduating from an Italian university is not as easy as entering it.
Food is sacred
Eating on the run or rushing to eat is not customary in Italy. During lunch or dinner, many Italians simply do not answer the phone or politely offer to reschedule the conversation for another time.
A 60-minute lunch break at school with an eight-hour school day is not a luxury, but a necessity, according to Italians.
The dishes that are offered to children in the school cafeteria (soup, simple pasta with cheese, meat or fish with a side dish) do not always satisfy the discerning Italians, so some middle and high school students go to have lunch at home or at the nearest cafe. Primary school students are not allowed to leave the building on their own, so the children have lunch in the dining room, and in the time remaining from the break they walk with the teacher on the school grounds.
Schools with a six-hour day do not have such a long lunch break. In many of them there are no canteens, so the students have a snack at breaks with sandwiches or fruits that they brought with them, and go home after school for lunch.
No gold medal, no spring break
Despite the fact that Italians love and know how to arrange holidays, it is not customary to celebrate the beginning of classes here. And there is no specific date for this in Italy. Lessons begin during the first three weeks of September and end at the beginning of June.
At the same time, the start date of classes depends on the region and is appointed separately by local authorities each year. So, for example, schools in Sicily may start working a few weeks later than schools in the northern regions due to hot weather.
Graduation at the end of the 13th grade in Italy is celebrated modestly – with a small disco or a party. There are no gold medals here for excellent academic performance, but you can get 110 points out of 100 on the final exam. In addition, in Italy there are neither autumn nor spring holidays, but the students are not very upset about this:
– There are many public holidays in Italy – religious and secular, – says Francesca. – For example, Epiphany and Easter are considered official holidays here, just like the Day of the Proclamation of the Republic and the Day of National Unity. Usually at this time, schoolchildren are allowed to rest for 3-4 days – enough to take a breath and return to school.
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In the first person
“By the will of fate, I became the director of the school where my mother studied since 1939.
In the 80s, the walls of the old school were prepared for me. to breathe life into the new school walls built by the giant factory…”
0004 “Honorary Worker of General Education of the Russian Federation” .
Teaching staff – 67 teachers . The highest category – 19 teachers, I category – 30 teachers, correspondence to the position held – 6 teachers, have industry awards – 10 teachers.
The school has 1271 students – 52 classes , 4 – for children with disabilities, 10-A class has a technological profile, 10-B and 11-A – socio-economic and natural science profile. 100% of graduates enter universities annually, 34 students of the school were awarded gold and silver medals in different years.
Municipal educational institution secondary school No. 56 implements educational programs for primary general, basic general and secondary general education, adapted programs for students with disabilities and additional educational programs.
At school, students learn a foreign language: French, English.
In elementary school, all classes are implementing the programs “Perspective” and Planet of Knowledge. In grades 10-11 there is a technological and natural science profile.
The innovative activity of the school is associated with participation in municipal projects “Modernization of the management systems of educational organizations in the new architectonics of the innovation space”, “The educational situation of the child is the basis for designing changes at all levels of management.” Every year, the school holds elections from the student community to the Governing Council and once every 3 years – from the pedagogical and parent community . The Governing Council forms the educational policy of the school. Information about the activities of the school is communicated to the public through printed materials, through the school website, through meetings and seminars at the district, city and region levels.
The school’s partners are: the Institute for the Development of Education in Yaroslavl, Yaroslavl State Pedagogical University named after. K.D. Ushinsky, the Academy of MUBiNT as well as the Yaroslavl Motor Plant and institutions of additional education. The school itself in its structure has a Center for Additional Education, which provides free and paid educational services.
The founder and owner of the property of a budgetary institution is the city district of Yaroslavl. The functions and powers of the founder of the school on behalf of the city of Yaroslavl are carried out by: the Department of Education of the Mayor’s Office of Yaroslavl (hereinafter referred to as the Founder), the Mayor’s Office of Yaroslavl in terms of making decisions on the creation, reorganization, change in type and liquidation of a budgetary institution, on its renaming, creation and liquidation of its branches , opening and closing of its representative offices, the Municipal Property Management Committee of the City Hall of Yaroslavl (hereinafter referred to as the Municipal Property Management Committee) in terms of management, use and disposal of municipal property.
The functions and powers of the owner of the property of a budgetary institution on behalf of the city of Yaroslavl are carried out by the Committee for Management of Municipal Property.
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School No. 56 – laureate of the regional stage of the All-Russian competition “The Best Schools of Russia – 2005” in the nomination “City Comprehensive School” |
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School No. 56 – the winner of the regional competition “School of the Year” in 2010 in the nomination “Social partnership of a general education institution with a family, other institutions, organizations and development of forms of public administration” |
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School No. 56 is the winner of the competition of educational institutions implementing innovative educational programs |
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School No. 56 is the winner of the Internet project “Building the School of the Future Together” |
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Order on the renaming of the school No.
56 dated 11.11.2015
School No. 56 provides for paid services, more information here can be found here
Partners
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Schools-participants municipal innovation sites ” Board of directors of city schools as a resource for the strategic development of MSO”, “Modernization of the management systems of educational organizations in the new architectonics of the innovation space” :
- Secondary School No. 4;
- Secondary School No. 11;
- Secondary School No. 67;
- Secondary School No. 70;
- Secondary School No. 73;
- Secondary School No. 76;
- Secondary School No. 80;
- Lyceum № 86.
Participating schools, kindergartens municipal innovation site “The educational situation of the child – the basis for designing changes at all levels of government” :
Secondary School No. 11 |
MDOU “Kindergarten No. 26” | MDOU “Kindergarten No. 72” | MDOU “Kindergarten No. 110” | MDOU “Kindergarten No. 207” |
| Secondary School No. 68 | MDOU “Kindergarten No. 40” | MDOU “Kindergarten No. 73” | MDOU “Kindergarten No. 171” | MDOU “Kindergarten No. 233” |
| MDOU “Kindergarten No. 12” | MDOU “Kindergarten No. 57” | MDOU “Kindergarten No. 91” | MDOU “Kindergarten No. 182” |
Primary school-kindergarten No. 115 |
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USEFUL LINKS
Regulation on the procedure for accepting and deductions of students
Plan schema of the organization of safe road traffic in close proximity to the secondary school No.