Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/419085
Middle School Model For Sampey, who began her career as a physical education and health teacher, wellness is a personal and professional passion. Under her leadership the middle school has led the way in addressing some of these issues. It started with a hard look at research Duke University's Harris Cooper was doing on how much homework is appropriate for a middle school-age student. en, about seven years ago, the middle school stopped giving end-of-semester exams. "Eliminating exams was one of the best things we did," she said. "We asked ourselves: 'Why are we creating so much stress and anxiety to make middle school children sit through a two-hour exam, when studies show that they are not developmentally ready?'" According to Sampey, by alleviating the stress and time commitment of exams, the middle school was able to add focused learning time into the schedule. Most recently, based on work with Challenge Success, the middle school eliminated first-quarter grades in favor of narrative comments, which offer both a richer look at student progress and ease the pressure of having grades as students and teachers are still transitioning into the new school year. "e question we are always asking ourselves in the middle school is: 'What is best for the students?'"Sampey said. She feels that the strength of this strategic plan is that it is asking the same questions for the entire school, JK - 12. "I believe wellness is some- thing we can focus on as a school without sacrificing one iota of Latin being the best academic institution it can be. We can do both – be a school that really cares about kids and their well-being and one that challenges them academically." n 22 The schedule of an upper school student-athlete Saturday 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 1:00 PM 2:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 10:00 PM wake up volleyball practice / game homework / relax family dinner and hangout time L AT I N M A G A Z I N E Monday - Friday 6:15 AM 7:15 AM 6:45 AM 4:00 PM 5:00 PM 8:00 AM 3:30 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 PM wake up robotics club leave home to drive to Latin with family leave school for volleyball club practice depending on traffic, stop for a snack and do homework along the way Classes (do homework and meet with teachers during free periods) volleyball practice shower, finish homework, relax and get ready for bed Monday - Friday unless traffic is terrible 40-60 minute commute eat dinner in the car afterward eat breakfast in the car on the way to school "The demands we as teachers and parents place on children and the demands they place on themselves can be overwhelming. Children need time to sleep. They need time to play and to daydream. Those things should be valued." – middle school counselor Pamela Buchanan Miller 6:30 AM - 1 PM on tournament days