[Grovenet] Arts are important for healthy kids! meet 6/02, 6:30 PM

[Alana Graham]

This Neil Armstrong Middle School scheduling message
from teacher and mom, Monica Gorman:

Please come to Forest Grove Library's Rogers Room this
Monday, June 2, from 6:30 to 8 PM, to discuss the
Forest Grove School District's schedule change at Neil
Armstrong Middle School.
 
A group of concerned parents has organized this
informational meeting on Monday. We, as a community of
parents, will explore the impact of this recent Neil
Armstrong decision.   Neil Armstrong intends to
lengthen class times, reduce the number of class
periods, and reduce the amount of elective choices for
middle school students.  In this way, they hope to
provide all students with more time in core subjects
and to improve academic performance overall.  
 
We appreciate the District's concern about students
who are struggling academically.  However, we also
want to preserve the Forest Grove School District's
proud tradition of offering strong music, arts, and
electives programs.  We believe the above NAMS changes
greatly jeopardize these programs.  
 
At this meeting, we welcome stories about how this
decision will impact individual NAMS students. 
Parents and students can also meet other concerned
families, help plan next actions, and explore the
research on best practices for middle schools.  We
will hand out research on middle school scheduling and
brainstorm ways we can organize effectively so that
the District and NAMS will hear our voices.
 
Let us know if you have any questions  ----   and
please pass this along to anyone you think might be
interested. 
 
To learn more about best practices in middle schools,
go to the National Middle School Association website,
www.nmsa.org
 
Monica Gorman <Mogorman at hevanet.com>, 

Just passing it on, Alana.