| Overview of Concord Middle School |
Concord Middle School (CMS) is a 6-8 middle level school comprised of
two buildings, the Sanborn building and the Peabody building, approximately
one mile apart, with a total population of 650 students. We are fortunate
to have a staff of 75 experienced professionals who share a common expectation
of excellence. The following is a brief snapshot of the current climate
of the school. CMS is an inclusive school that provides a safe, orderly
environment conducive to learning, with a student/teacher ratio of 100 to
1 and an average class size of 20. The learning process is taken very seriously
at CMS. Much attention is paid to qualitative skills such as critical thinking,
process learning and creative problem solving. By objective measures, CMS
students also do well, with above average scores in the 8th grade Massachusetts
Comprehensive Assessment System English Language arts, mathematics, and
science & technology tests. Students are well prepared for transition
into high school and ultimately college.
Our students are talented, multi-faceted young people. Examples of their
accomplishments include but are not limited to the following: awards in
local, state and national curriculum based competitions, successful participation
in the Geography Bee, Model United Nations Conference, Math Counts, District
Chorus, Orchestra and Band. Extra-curricular and co-curricular activities
are very popular at CMS. This year 447 students performed in band, stage
band, chorus, and orchestra; 76 were involved in the annual talent show;
65 participated in the musical, The Emperorís New Clothes. Participation
in interscholastic and intramural sports is high at CMS; enrollments in
fall, winter and spring sports this past year total 493. In addition, 333
students took part in the all-school Triple Crown event. Other activities
offered after school include: Math Olympiad, yearbook, and Environmental
Club. CMS students through Student Leadership have initiated community service
projects such as Jump Rope for Heart, a raffle for The Red Cross Disaster
Relief, a bottle drive for The Jimmy Fund, a food drive for The Open Pantry
and a toiletry collection for shelters in Waltham, Ayer and Boston.
The level of parent involvement and participation is high and takes many
forms including traditional classroom volunteer work and chaperoning field
trips, fund raising and participation on committees such as the Concord
Education Foundation, Parent and Teacher Group, and the School Advisory
Council. Parental input is encouraged and valued in the building based,
decision-making management model of CMS.
Professional improvement is a way of life for the faculty. Teachers participate
in staff development in-service programs, workshops, professional conferences
and advanced degree work, always striving to remain current in their knowledge
of pedagogy and strong in their commitment to life-long learning.
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