Smith Strengthens Team Approach, Bolsters Other Supports

The tween population of any middle school thrives when there is a smooth and supportive bridge between the structure of elementary school and the freedoms of high school.

Ramsey School District has taken important steps to create that kind of environment at Smith. This school year started with smaller “teams” to link students and staff, more comprehensive counseling services, and the consistency of routines and protocols that help students of this age feel assured. Each team has about 70 students and one dedicated teacher from each core subject area. More defined teams will make it easier to create routines and personalize learning.

In addition, counseling and related services have been enhanced, and Smith’s school-to-home communication, including newsletters and social media, will be more robust. Staff training will underscore how emotions interact with learning, decision-making, creativity, relationships and health — often tricky areas for this age group. High demand for intervention and support services resulted in the formation of an Intervention Team of educators from multiple disciplines who will work on specific issues with students and parents.

Turning these goals into true action requires coordination and staff support. That work falls under the umbrella of Chris Davis as Smith’s Supervisor of K-8 Education and Student Welfare and Courtney Donohue as the Coordinator of Student Affairs.