The Crookston Public Schools held a special meeting at the Crookston High School Auditorium on Tuesday evening for all the parents of 5th, 6th, and 7th graders for a presentation of an update about the process of the design of the future middle school addition to the Crookston High School.
Crookston High School Principal Matt Torgerson opened the meeting by explaining why the Middle School would be a great addition to the school district. He explained that it would be a way to inspire students to better their future by providing the education needed to promote critical thinking and problem-solving in an ever-changing society. “As we plan throughout this Middle School, trying to transition from the elementary to the high school age is what is developmentally appropriate for these 6th, 7th, and 8th-graders so that they get what they need. Part of what they need at that age is to learn a little bit of independence. How I spoke about it was is that we have that independence with someone, that adult lead, watching over us,” Crookston High School Principal Matt Torgerson explained. “It’s really trying to teach the students to self-advocate, be resilient, how to lose and be okay with it, and other skills that are not just math, science, and English so that they are better people, not just better students.”
Torgerson then showed a layout of the Middle School, where they will build four new classrooms and turn other classrooms in that area around the High School’s Media Center into a Middle School wing that was separated from the High School. They would also separate each grade into “pods” to make them feel like they have a “home” and help them feel more welcome in the school.
Torgerson then showed the classes that would be offered to the students. He explained they would have math, science, English, and social studies but reported they would at least have half of the year for Physical Education, where they will have options to work in the weights room with a Phys. Ed teacher. They would also be able to join band, choir, and orchestra after completing a 6th-grade Classroom music class. They would also have the elective to join the CTE-Tech and Ag classes in the sixth and seventh hours. The students will also have to take a Health Class in their 7th-grade class in the opposite semester of their Phys Ed class. They are also required to take one semester of art each year and computer coding. Torgerson explained they would also have access to STEM and two new programs; WINN-What I Need Now and an Advisory Time. They would also add a recess time for them that was added for students to enjoy outside or in the high school gym in the winter. An example of a student’s schedule can be seen below-
Torgerson then went into the Middle School-Specific Classes. The first was an Advisory Time in the students’ homeroom, and the teacher would provide Academic and Social/Emotional Mentoring to help create the school/family liaison. “The Advisory is meant to be that home base. We’re throwing around the idea of connecting with the Pirates and having their crew, their family, and their in-school parent. Through that, it’s not just about math, science, social studies, tech, and computers. It’s about those soft skills, the social and emotional skills, the academic skills that were missing, and how do we ourselves become more independent and work towards improving on those skills with that home and family feel in-house.” The next program was the WINN (What I Need Now) program to help the students adjust to Flex Scheduling, where they work to gain Small Group Organizational Skills while working with Success Coaches to help any students that fell behind in or struggled in any of their classes. Or if a student isn’t struggling in a class, it would be a chance for them to explore new subjects to expand their academic horizons and challenge themselves in new ways. Torgerson explained that these new programs, mainly WINN, would support many programs they currently have. These services included PATCH, School Counselors, Success Coaches, Nursing, Intervention, School psychologists, and the Student Assistance Team. “Currently, we have a lot of great programming with things like PATCH, which is very helpful with our Homework Help After School, which is directed by teachers, special ed, and content area teachers to get students what they need. What we’re doing in the Middle School is the WINN time, which means that some students who are struggling with their homework need help, so we’re going to make sure they get that help during the school day with our paid professionals. If they need extra and aren’t being challenged enough, we’re going to find ways to challenge them during that time too. Those are some of those supports which are both for that remediation as well as supplementing the academics and pushing students a little beyond their comfort zone.”
Torgerson then went into the school’s activities, in which he explained that 6th graders would be eligible in any after-school activities, from sports to clubs. However, 6th-graders could not play or compete in anything deemed a varsity event due to the Minnesota State High School League policy but could join Junior Varsity teams. He also explained that the School and High School League had to follow the MSHSL’s eligibility policies regarding chemical violations and progress toward graduation.
Torgerson then opened the meeting to questions from the audience, where one member asked if the WINN program would be a part of every student’s schedule. Torgerson reported it would be for every grade between the fifth and sixth hours. When asked if every student would have to take music every year, Torgerson explained that all 6th graders would take a 6th-grade Classroom Music class, but once they got to 7th and 8th grade, they would have the option to join any of the other ensembles. When asked how it would work for students that wished to be in band and choir if they had to pick one over the other, Torgerson explained the music teachers collaborated with one another to set up schedules to allow the students to attend both ensembles equally.
When asked if the Advisory and WINN moments would be the same length as a full-length class, to which Torgerson explained they were not. The Advisory Time would last about 15 minutes after their first-hour class, and the WINN time would last about a half hour, compared to a regular class’s 44 minutes. He also explained that the Middle School bells and lunches would be at separate times to not overcrowd the halls and lunchroom.
When asked if anyone would help the students find their classes, Torgerson answered that in the spring and August, they would invite the new 5th and 6th graders to the school for a tour with older students to help them learn the inside of the school.
When asked what the role of the Homeroom teacher was, Torgerson explained that each homeroom teacher would work with the 12-15 students in it and look into those students more in-depth and be the bridge between parents and students about any problems they had academically.
Principal Torgerson then requested for the parents to take an online survey for parents to share what they found most interesting about the Middle School addition and to share any questions they had. If you would like to take the survey, you can contact Matt Torgerson via email at matthewtorgerson@isd593.org.
Pictures of the presentation can be found below-
