Boundaries - One More Time - Nap. Sun 4/12

[warriorpride]

I don't know if this will be a consideration, but the more MSs that split into HSs, the more complicated and confusing it will be for the music and athletic programs, as kids transition from MS to HS.

For music, for example, the ES and MS groups perform at the Fine Arts Festival at the HS that they will feed into. Lets take Hill, for example - what Fine Arts festival will Hill's groups perform at - MVs or WVs? And the heads of multiple HS music programs will need to recruit at some MSs where the target audience is only the portion of kids that will feed into their HS.

The same goes for athletics. The HS coaches currently can follow players in their feeder MSs. With splits, they'll have to find out which kids will feed into their HS and which won't. Some amount of teamwork developed in MS will also be lost with splits.

These aren't earth-shattering, but maybe an argument for trying to keep the splits minimized. However, a majoity of MSs could possibly end up being split.

[driven]

doctorwho said:

bob said:

Pro-middle school spilt, too.

Ditto

Ditto too! (believe it or not ;D)

[chicoryowl]

warriorpride said:

I don't know if this will be a consideration, but the more MSs that split into HSs, the more complicated and confusing it will be for the music and athletic programs, as kids transition from MS to HS.

For music, for example, the ES and MS groups perform at the Fine Arts Festival at the HS that they will feed into. Lets take Hill, for example - what Fine Arts festival will Hill's groups perform at - MVs or WVs? And the heads of multiple HS music programs will need to recruit at some MSs where the target audience is only the portion of kids that will feed into their HS.

The same goes for athletics. The HS coaches currently can follow players in their feeder MSs. With splits, they'll have to find out which kids will feed into their HS and which won't. Some amount of teamwork developed in MS will also be lost with splits.

These aren't earth-shattering, but maybe an argument for trying to keep the splits minimized. However, a majoity of MSs could possibly end up being split.

In regards to the above, I was speaking with somebody in the PTA and she was telling me that before they could do their calendar of events, they had to get the calendar of events for the middle and high school to ensure that they didn't have conflicts. It sounded like the order of choosing cascaded from the high schools downward. A number of split would add to the complexity of that process.

[doctorwho]

warriorpride said:

I don't know if this will be a consideration, but the more MSs that split into HSs, the more complicated and confusing it will be for the music and athletic programs, as kids transition from MS to HS.

For music, for example, the ES and MS groups perform at the Fine Arts Festival at the HS that they will feed into. Lets take Hill, for example - what Fine Arts festival will Hill's groups perform at - MVs or WVs? And the heads of multiple HS music programs will need to recruit at some MSs where the target audience is only the portion of kids that will feed into their HS.

The same goes for athletics. The HS coaches currently can follow players in their feeder MSs. With splits, they'll have to find out which kids will feed into their HS and which won't. Some amount of teamwork developed in MS will also be lost with splits.

These aren't earth-shattering, but maybe an argument for trying to keep the splits minimized. However, a majoity of MSs could possibly end up being split.

I think the music will be the trickier of the two -- as far as athletics - even the kids know who's who and where the comptetion and skill is, I am sure the coaches do also. ( i.e. varsity level freshman) - the kids play against each other in school and club ( most sports ) - and in some cases play for some of the coaches clubs ( thinking soccer here). Same applies for the teamwork aspect - remembering that with 2.33 MS per HS - not all kids are going to make a team in HS - and many of these kids play club together for 6 month seasons, as opposed to 6 weeks max in MS.

the bigger issue may be this in 2008 - the skilled freshman who are varsity level from day one, and MV bound in 2009 - do the coaches play them at varsity level freshman year knowing they will likely not have a varsity program the following year at MV ?

I have sent my feelings on this to Kathy Birkett, but have yet to hear anything back yet - regarding any possibility of varsity teams in 2009 at MV.

If you think you may have a child in that quandry also - maybe additional letters to her would help. ( okay commercial over ). I have no doubt that the programs in most sports would be competitive in the Upstate 8 the day the school opens. Conference champs likely not, but competitive yes.


Again, not the most critical school issue by any stretch , but since it came up......