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The Henry H. Wells Middle School is a unique environment that strives to address the individual needs of the 10 to 14 year old student and promote academic success. The goal is to foster a balance between personal, social, and academic growth and to create a school community, which values respect and responsibility.
Each grade level is organized into three academic teams, with four core area teachers and a special education teacher. In addition to studies in the core areas of English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, our students experience a variety of other offerings in Foreign Language (French, Italian, or Spanish), Art, Technology Education, Health, Physical Education, Reading, Band, Chorus, Strings, Creative Art, Enrichment, Home and Career Skills, Library Skills and Guidance.
The English Language Arts curriculum is rich with strategies to teach students to use language effectively and to appreciate fully the rich literature genres used to prepare them to achieve the New York State Standards. Reading, writing listening and speaking are the vehicles used for learning.
The mathematics program is designed to teach children to value mathematics, to help them become confident in their ability to do mathematics, and help them become problem solvers. Acceleration begins in grade 6 with a pre-algebra program, a 7th grade honors program and Regents Math A in grade 8. Double accelerated students in grade 6 will complete Math A by January of grade 8 and will begin Math B the second half of the year. The 6th, 7th, and 8th grade math clubs provide students with opportunities to participate in competitions and use the math skills they have acquired in the program to bring recognition to our school.
The foreign language department believes that studying a second language promotes a greater understanding of cultural diversity among people. Besides promoting greater cultural awareness and appreciation, the foreign language program at the middle school will assist students in the study of French, Italian, and Spanish beginning in grade 6. Consistent with New York State standards, the program of studies concentrates on gaining competency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
The science curriculum in grades 6, 7, and 8 is a spiraled curriculum, which builds on topics from one grade level to the next at higher levels of complexity in the areas of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Earth Science. There are accelerated programs at both the 7th and 8th grade levels, with 8th grade students participating in Regents Earth Science for which they earn a high school credit.
The middle school Social Studies curriculum addresses the New York State standards and is designed to increase students' abilities to understanding and ever changing, complex world. Students are taught to see connections between the events of the past and the present. They are given some exposure to the concepts of social sciences to gain a greater appreciation of their own cultures as well as the values and beliefs of others.
A restructuring of the middle school schedule has added an additional academic rotation period of 45 minutes every fourth day. This has increased instructional time by 25% in the major core areas. The middle school has an 8 period day with thirty-minute lunch periods for each grade level. During this time, in addition to their major academic classes, students still have many options for special area courses and electives. The length of the school day is seven hours from 7:45-2:45 each day.
Students in the middle school also have many opportunities to participate in intramural sports and modified interscholastic sports along with a wide range of other clubs and activities.
A two-hour after school homework program gives students the opportunity to work with two academic teachers in the school library three days a week.
This year, the Henry H. Wells Middle School was cited by the Commissioner of Education, Dr. Richard Mills, as one of the most rapidly improving middle schools in New York State and the only one in Putnam County.
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