Principal's Page

A message from the Middle School Principal:

Waterloo Middle School strives to meet the intellectual and developmental needs of young adolescents (youth 10 – 14 years of age). The middle-level educational program has a purpose beyond linking the elementary grades and the high school. Our basic goals are to educate and nurture. We have developed a culture of collective and shared responsibility in which our focus is not only on academics, but the development of the social and emotional aspects of our students. We are very excited to be moving into our new school and are confident that the needs of our students will be better serviced in this new facility.

To meet the specific needs of each student, the Waterloo Middle School provides a safe and orderly learning environment that offers a balance between academic, physical, emotional, and social growth. Our anti-bulling program includes a Student Leadership Team comprised of students from each grade. These students are an important part of making the middle school a sate place for all students to learn and grow.

Our mission is to make the transition from childhood to adolescence and from the elementary grades to the high school a positive period of intellectual and personal development. Our goal is to provide a course of study that is comprehensive, challenging, purposeful, integrated, and standards-based in which New York State Assessments are administered in ELA and Math for all of our students as well as State Assessments in Science, Social Studies and Foreign Language for grade 8 students; a school that is organized and structured to promote both academic and personal development; teachers who have a through understanding of their subjects and of the students they teach; a support system that targets both academic achievement and personal development; and an educational setting that values continuous improvement and ongoing professional learning for both students and parents.

The key elements of our school include:

• Block Schedule: 4 periods per day, 75 minutes per period, most classes meet every other day. Each day is known as A, B, C, or D days.
• Advisement Program known as P.R.I.D.E.:  meets every day for 30 minutes, students are part of small groups under the leadership of an Advisement teacher. Planning, Reading, Investigating academic success, Development of character, and Enjoying each other company are part of what makes up the Advisement Period.
• Extra-curricular activities range from Modified Sports for grades 7 - 8; intramurals in sports such as soccer, basketball, bowling, golf; and a wide variety of clubs such as Chess Club, Drama Club, Library Club, and the Education Enrichment Club.
• Monthly dances on Friday evenings from 7:00 - 9:00 pm.
• Academic rewards and incentives.
• Parent mentor groups for Grades 6 – 8.
• Academic teams that provide cooperative planning and inter-disciplinary activities
• Mandatory 5^th Period (2:20 – 3:00) for students not meeting academic requirements; 5^th Period is also available for any student to receive extra assistance.
• Mobile computer labs available for all classes and laptop computer available for students to sign out.

Parents and community members are encouraged to become involved in the Middle School by joining a Parent Mentor Group or becoming a member of our Building Level Team. Together, we can make a difference

  Mr. Michael Ferrara, Principal

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