(WATERBURY, June 11, 2009) — Having one daughter attend West Side Middle School was enough for Christine Rousseau.
Rousseau said her eldest daughter struggled with disruptions by unruly students. With a second daughter, Alexia, graduating fifth grade, Rousseau was ready to begin paying a private school tuition. But she’s giving West Side a second chance because of new elite academies being launched at the city’s three mainstream middle schools next year. Top-ranked students will take tougher classes, moving at a quicker pace and bringing home more difficult homework.
“It was either this or Catholic school,” Rousseau said Wednesday during an orientation at Waterbury Arts Magnet School’s atrium.
The room was packed with hundreds of students and parents — the cream of the city’s fifth grade.
To apply, students needed high marks on their Connecticut Mastery Tests — meeting or exceeding state goal in writing, reading and math. They also needed a 95 percent attendance rate, a record of good behavior and a minimum average grade of “B.” Screening committees made the final picks after interviewing students.
Educators at the orientation say the academies are for students who might otherwise have languished in mainstream classes.
“What always concerned me is some bright kids weren’t challenged, they were bored,” Board of Education President Patrick Hayes told the crowd. He said the academies are also a good alternative for parents who might otherwise consider private school.
“You spend enough money in Waterbury,” Hayes said. “Stick with us and we will deliver for you.”
Wallace Middle School Principal Louis Padua called the middle schools’ raucous reputation unfair. But it was a common belief among parents present. Several said they’d considered private schools for their children before learning of the academies.
Wallace and West Side will start with two classes of 28 students. North End Middle School didn’t receive enough applicants, so it will start with a single accelerated class.
Wallace teacher Matthew Calabrese warned students they might see their grades slip and find the homework load challenging at the outset.
“We set the bar pretty high for our students,” Calabrese said. “You are going to make mistakes. It’s OK to make mistakes.”
Driving the workload expectation home, organizers gave students a packet of summer homework. They must read four books, write detailed reports and answer questions.
Padua said educators hope the academies will serve as inspiration.
Michael Puffer, Repbublican-American
On Tuesday, June 2, members of Wallace Middle School’s Talented and Gifted Program (FOCUS) visited Central Connecticut State University and attended a series of workshops along with students from varying grades across the state. The workshops were part of a meeting known as “Dreams Take Flight.” The workshops ranged from Gemstone Jewelry to Robotics 101. The seven FOCUS students were: Selmon Rafey, Gabriel Mobley, Jorna Sojati, Anxheliki Duro, Shayla Biello, Lillian Rivera, and Temeyra Ramos.
