Our School

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About Mt. Ararat Middle School

Fueling Hope Through Learning

MISSION

Mt. Ararat Middle School provides a proficiency-based, learner-centered education for students in grades six, seven, and eight, in which a feeling of hope and engagement is fostered by clear expectations, learning from mistakes, and positive relationships.
TEAM STRUCTURE & ORGANIZATION

TEAM PHILOSOPHY

Each student is placed on a cooperative Team, where subject-area teachers are able to collaborate and communicate to provide the best possible educational experience for their select group of students. All of our students receive an excellent education, appropriate to their developmental level, no matter which team they are on. All nine of the teams at Mt. Ararat Middle School are equally committed to the common mission and vision of our school. 

“TEAMOGRAPHY”

The Teamography provides a visual representation of the teaming structures at Mt. Ararat Middle School.

TEAM FLOW

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efore the start of the 6th grade year, each incoming student is placed on one of two 6th grade teams. The team they are placed on in 6th grade determines the team they will flow into for their 7th and 8th grade years. South Bay feeds into Androscoggin and then into Casco, while North Bay feeds into either Merrymeeting or Kennebec, which loop every other year. Looping means that the student will be on the same team, with the same teachers for both their 7th and 8th grade years. Non-looping means that they stay with the same group of kids, but get an entirely new set of teachers when going from 7th to 8th grade.  

STUDENT PLACEMENT

When we assign students to classes for the new school year, our primary consideration is to ensure equitable, workable groups to meet the diverse educational needs of our students. When students first enter the middle school, we encourage parents to provide us with information about their child’s learning style in writing if they have specific concerns about placement. Parents may also include requests for separation from another student supported with details so that we can confirm that the request is legitimate.

 Should a parent request that his/her child not have a particular teacher, the parent will be expected to put the concerns in writing. That information may be shared with the teacher. Just as students have a right to due process, so do teachers. Only if a teacher is made aware that a parent has formed a negative impression can the teacher address the issues. It is important to note that we have limited resources and we often need to cluster students with similar needs in order to provide the necessary support. Be assured that we spend many long hours discussing the placements and trying to ensure everyone is appropriately placed.

If you have concerns or questions about your child’s placement, please contact a member of our School Counseling Department at (207)729-2950 ext. 7603.

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