Madison Accelerated Middle School
By Rob Miller
October 29, 2009
Madison Accelerated Middle School
2008-2010 National Accelerated Schools Plus Demonstration Site
Our American Heroes - Sixth Grade Social Studies Project
Madison Accelerated Middle School Slideshow
School Vision Statement:
Madison Accelerated Middle School Has HEART!
High Expectations!
Environment is Positive!
All Are Actively Engaged!
Respect For All!
Together We Can Be Terrific!
What is an "Accelerated" school?
Imagine a school... in which all children excel to high levels, regardless of their background. Imagine a school that treats all children as gifted and builds on their strengths through enrichment strategies, independent research, problem solving, science, writing, music, and art. Imagine a school in which all members of the school community develop a vision of their ideal school and in which they collaborate to achieve that dream by making major decisions about curriculum, instructional strategies and school organization. Imagine a school where ideas count. Let your imagination go as far as it can and you have discovered the accelerated school.
Accelerated Schools Plus Principles
In an Accelerated School , all members of the school community are invited to share in the leadership of the school. The parents, the students, school staff members, and community members develop the vision for the school; understand its challenges and work together to achieve its goals. Accelerated Schools are based on the following three principles:
UNITY OF PURPOSE– The whole school community decides on the goals for the school which become the target for everyone's efforts. Everyone in the school is pulling in the same direction.
EMPOWERMENT COUPLED WITH RESPONSIBILITY– All members of the school community help to make important educational decisions, share responsibility for implementing those decisions, and share responsibility for the outcome of those decisions.
BUILDING ON STRENGTHS–There is a commitment to looking for and building on each person's strengths in the school community.
The following values are embedded and supported in an Accelerated School and lead to acceleration.
- Equity- Accommodations are provided so that all students can learn and have access to a high quality education.
- Participation - Everyone is informed and students, parents, the school staff, and community members are invited to participate in the Accelerated Schools transformation process. Everyone's ideas count.
- Communication and Collaboration - The entire school community collaboratively works toward a shared purpose by meeting, talking, and learning from each other's experiences.
- Community Spirit - The school staff, parents, students, district employees and local community members build connections to serve all students.
- Reflection - In transforming the school, the school community takes time to reflect, to do research, to work together and to share ideas.
- Experimentation - The school community explores, designs, tests and implements programs as a result of communicating about and reflecting upon the school's challenges.
- Trust - Teachers, parents, support staff, administrators, district office, community members, and students come to believe in each other, support one another and focus on each other's strengths.
- Risk-taking - The school community promotes a safe environment for informed risk- taking.
- Community expertise - The resources necessary for excellence are found within the school community.
- Respect- Each member of the school community shows regard for the work of other by being open to diverse ideas and points of view.
Click Here To Learn More About Accelerated Schools!
1003 Farrish Ave.
Madison Il 62060
618 876-6409
Fax 618 877-2693
Principal Rob Miller
