Some clichés about middle school students are hard to resist. Middle school kids are, in fact, young people in various stages of puberty. Often the height differential between tallest and shortest seems best measured in feet versus inches. But a single afternoon at H.G. Hill Middle Prep proves other clichés – unexpressive teens with downcast eyes, shuffling between classes just waiting for school to be dismissed – absolutely untrue.
Earlier this week, more than 50 guests participated in a VIP tour of H.G. Hill, co-sponsored by the Nashville Area Chamber and the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors. This tour – the third in a series of four designed to highlight the transformational work occurring within MNPS middle schools – focused on project-based learning and extracurricular activities. Guests were greeted in the school’s parking lot by eighth-graders, welcomed at the front doors by fifth-graders, and entertained before the formal program by an all-student rock band. Remarks by Director of Schools Dr. Jesse Register and Chief Academic Officer Jay Steele acknowledged that middle school has long received a bad rap and traditionally has been a time of departure of students from MNPS. But that trend is changing with the introduction of a new branding around middle schools – now Middle Preps – and an emphasis on increasing quality experiences for all students.
According to MNPS’s strategic plan for middle school redesign, 100 percent of students have the opportunity to engage in extra activities, including access to individual technology devices, advanced academics offered in every school, student leadership opportunities, foreign language studies and project-based learning.
Also addressing visitors was H.G. Hill Principal Connie Gwinn, who was assisted with the school tour by parent volunteers and school staff and teachers.
Several mayoral candidates – including Howard Gentry, Linda Eskind Rebrovick, David Fox and Bill Freeman, as well as vice mayoral candidate David Briley – participated in the tour, along with local business leaders and elected officials. Broken into small groups and led by Middle Prep Ambassadors, tours included stops in the school’s related arts classrooms, including band and visual arts, and an opportunity to hear from four eighth-graders who successfully completed an independent, project-based learning assignment.
The final middle prep tour of the 2014-2015 school year will be Wednesday, April 1, at DuPont Hadley Middle Prep, with a focus on PBL, teaming and clubs. If you are interested in participating, please contact me at 615-743-3152 or rmcdonald@nashvillechamber.com.
