To: Dr. Deborah Gist, Tulsa [OK] Public Schools Superintendent, Ms. Suzanne Schreiber, Tulsa School Board of Education President, and Ms. Jennettie Marshall, Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education member District 3
Create the McLain Middle School Academy (7 & 8 grades)
-Keep the McLain 7th Grade Academy open at 525 E. 46th St. N. Tulsa, OK
-Relocate the 8th grade pupils attending McLain Junior High School in the McLain High School building to the McLain 7th Grade Academy location.
- Our community and families must serve as authentic advisers to the district, principal and staff throughout the transformation process of creating a new "McLain Middle School Academy" (7th and 8th graders).
-Relocate the 8th grade pupils attending McLain Junior High School in the McLain High School building to the McLain 7th Grade Academy location.
- Our community and families must serve as authentic advisers to the district, principal and staff throughout the transformation process of creating a new "McLain Middle School Academy" (7th and 8th graders).
Why is this important?
Middle-school aged (7th and 8th) pupils are going through an extremely important stage of their lives. Puberty (hormonal changes), physical changes and brain development are not easy to handle alone. These changes can be reflected in their impulsiveness, "rebelliousness", inconsistent decision making, looking for relationships (the need to belong) and searching for their self identification. At this stage of their lives, they need a climate/environment, a curriculum, instructional delivery that is relevant to this stage of their lives. Additionally, they require relationships and teachers with the capacity to meet their unique academic and developmental growth needs.
The Superintendent wants to shutdown the 7th Grade Academy and place the 7th graders in the McLain High School building with the 8th graders. In 2011 our community said, "No!" to having 7th and 8th graders housed in the high school.
The coming and going of the high school pupils and 7th and 8th graders before and after school and sharing classes and in-house detention is unacceptable.
A middle school located at the the 7th Grade Academy would prevent this
contact. As is the case today, Superintendents have never addressed the social, and emotional development needs or provided the resources required for these children to attain subject mastery. The new "McLain Middle School Academy" (7th and 8th grades) is the first step in this journey to quality education.
The Superintendent wants to shutdown the 7th Grade Academy and place the 7th graders in the McLain High School building with the 8th graders. In 2011 our community said, "No!" to having 7th and 8th graders housed in the high school.
The coming and going of the high school pupils and 7th and 8th graders before and after school and sharing classes and in-house detention is unacceptable.
A middle school located at the the 7th Grade Academy would prevent this
contact. As is the case today, Superintendents have never addressed the social, and emotional development needs or provided the resources required for these children to attain subject mastery. The new "McLain Middle School Academy" (7th and 8th grades) is the first step in this journey to quality education.