By Jason Senne

Ellis Middle School Principal

Ellis Middle School has several new initiatives to assist Austin’s seventh and eighth grade students with an opportunity to learn and grow.

These programs focus on academics, community service, motivation and healthy habits. Below you will find a brief description of each of these initiatives. Please take some time to visit our website www.austin.k12.mn.us/ellis or follow us on Twitter @EllisMiddle492.

AVID

AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is an elective class that students apply to be part of. This year’s class of 21 students are learning about organization and how to be a good student. The AVID class has discussed the Cornell Way (system of note taking). Students are encouraged to take Cornell Notes or any type of Focused Notes in their content courses. The Cornell Way helps students review/revise their notes and use them as a study tool. Currently, students are learning the tutorial process and are excited to have students from Riverland come in to the classroom each Tuesday and Thursday.

The tutor sessions allow the Ellis students to write and verbally express their point of confusion in a subject area. The Riverland tutors and other AVID students ask questions to assist the student in finding a solution without giving them the answer. This process empowers the learner to develop critical thinking skills.

National Junior Honor Society

National Junior Honor Society is a student-run organization built off the cornerstone value of honor. Our members strive to display the traits of character, scholarship, leadership, citizenship and service and we do this by volunteering within and around our community.

Our goal is to make a difference for others by lending our support to causes about which we feel strongly. Our group consists of seventh and eighth graders who apply to be part of the organization. We meet frequently to plan and discuss our projects.

This year we were invited to attend We Day, which is a service learning event where we learn about the perspective of others around the world through the stories of influential personalities. We use this educational opportunity to springboard our projects. We are currently investing our time in WE Scare Hunger for which NJHS members collect nonperishable food items during trick or treating Oct. 31.

Another event we are preparing for is to take a “silent stand” to speak loudly for those who cannot speak for themselves. This will take place on International Women’s Day (www.internationalwomensday.com). During this day, the students pledge their silence for a cause of their choice and collect donations to benefit We Day charitable causes. It is quite a challenge for the middle school students and we are looking forward to it. These events are just a couple examples of our commitment and we are always embracing new causes to make a difference in our world.

SEARCH

A team of Ellis teachers spent the 2015-2016 school year working with the SEARCH Institute learning about how to best support the developmental assets of our students.

We studied research based strategies regarding these assets to gain insight into middle school students’ character strengths essential for motivating them and fostering perseverance within their school and daily lives.

Strategies learned during the training are currently being implemented with a pilot group of students and include lessons based in elements of the REACH curriculum (Relationships, Effort, Aspiration, Cognition, and Heart).

Select lessons from the REACH curriculum are also being delivered to all students in preparation for full school implementation next year. An example of a lesson from this curriculum would include finding out and sharing the “Sparks” of our students.

There is evidence that when students can recognize their passions and these passions are recognized by caring adults, they are more likely to be successful in school, increase school attendance and show concern for others.

Our goal is to purposefully create a culture that builds the character and minds of our students to enable them to persevere when faced with academic and life challenges. We are enjoying this journey and are looking forward to the next steps in this process.

Healthy Habits

Ellis is partnering with the Austin Bruins for a Healthy Habits hockey game on Dec. 14. The mission of Healthy Habits is to build positive relationships with today’s youth by stressing the importance of exercising the body and mind, encouraging healthy eating choices, working against bullying, as well as teaching students Hockey 101. This should be an exciting learning opportunity for the over 700 seventh and eighth grade students.