Syracuse Jr. High: 'School to Watch'

Syracuse Junior High School has been selected by a team of Utah educators as a "School to Watch."

The new moniker is a coveted one among the nation's junior high schools, and the school's principal, Robin Bowden, believes the award speaks volumes about her school community.

"The spirit of this award is a tribute to the Syracuse City community, students, parents and teachers of our school," Bowden said. "As principal of Syracuse Junior High School, I am honored to accept this award."

Syracuse Junior High's "School to Watch" label follows an on-site review by the Utah Schools to Watch Team — including the president of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform — and the submittal of a 33-page application which outlined the efforts of the Syracuse Junior High School community to create a school that has become academically challenging, responsive to student needs and socially equitable.

"This recognition is a validation of what most of our middle schools in the Davis School District are doing to meet the needs of young adolescents learners," said District Secondary School Director Rick Call. "Teachers, parents and administrators are working together to make change that is meaningful for our students."

According to criteria established by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform, "Schools to Watch" are schools that are:

• Academically excellent by challenging all students to use their minds well.

• Responsive to students needs by being sensitive to the unique developmental challenges of early adolescence.

• Socially equitable by being democratic and fair and providing every student with high-quality teachers, resources and support.

Utah is one of 14 states across the nation that are members of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. The Forum, founded in 1997, is an alliance of more than 60 educators, researchers, national associations, and officers of professional organizations and foundations committed to promoting the academic performance and healthy development of young adolescents.

The Utah Schools to Watch program is implemented by a partnership between the Utah Middle Level Association, the Utah State Office of Education and state educational organizations.

The consortium recognizes that effective middle schools differ significantly from elementary and high schools in terms of curriculum and instruction, professional orientation of teachers and administrators and accountability.

— In a related note, Syracuse Junior High is, among other things, the only junior high in the state authorized to offer a seven- through 10th-grade Middle Years Program of the International Baccalaureate Organization and is one of two junior high schools in the district piloting a new approach to math instruction using "Connecting Math Concepts."