celebrated 20 years of excellence in education
this past year. Smithton opened its
doors in the fall of 1995 and provided middle school children an opportunity to
build relationships, to explore the world beyond the classroom and to grow
socially, physically, emotionally, and academically as young adults. Since that first opening various components
have changed…environment, staffing, structure, and programming but the focus on
rigorous academic endeavor, character development, and the preparation for the
future has been steadfast. Smithton
develops students as problem solvers for an ever-changing future.
Strengths: There
are many important features regarding the educational program at Smithton
Middle School. Such as:
Quality Staff…more that 80% of the
professional staff has an advanced degree.
Knowledge base and experience results in highly rigorous instruction.
Opportunity beyond the
classroom…Smithton provided all students to explore and engage in a variety
of programs that extend and enrich their educational program. Chess Club, Robotics, Challenge Math, Science
Olympiad, Quiz Bowl, Athletics (football, volleyball, cross country,
basketball, and track), Builders Club and more.
Focus on Career and
College Readiness...We are proud to be an AVID (Advancement Via Individual
Determination) School. AVID is an
international approach to ensure all students are career and college ready We start this process at middle school by
implementing strategies that focus on critical thinking skills, organization,
and problem solving.
Parent and Community
Partnerships…Partnerships strengthen the school’s educational program. Smithton has a long tradition of having a
highly engaged and involved parent organization as well as business
partnerships with Quaker Oats and the MU Volleyball Team.
21st Century Learning Environment... Smithton focuses on integrating
technology as an instructional tool. This provides students opportunity for communication,
collaboration, creative exploration, critical thinking, and citizenship.
Current Practices…During the upcoming school year, Smithton has
three primary focuses…
1:1 Learning…All students will have their own
personal learning device, an IPad. This
year, teachers will use the IPad to enhance and enrich day-to-day learning
experiences. Developing Digital Citizens is a primary goal for this year.
Organization…A key student skill for success is being
organized. We understand at Smithton,
that organization must be taught.
Setting guidelines, teaching strategies, and modeling effective practices
will not only ensure student success during the school year but also in the
future.
BIST... Behavior
Intervention Support Team. Being consistent and fair helps to build trust with
students and parents. Smithton has
committed to implement this classroom/school management approach to ensure
student safety.
We Are One
