Raymond J. Grey Junior High School

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Raymond J. Grey Junior High School
Location
Acton, MA, USA
Information
Religion none
Principal Craig Hardimon
Enrollment

995

Faculty 115
Type Public
Campus Charter Rd. Complex
Motto "Home of the Colonials"
Color(s) Blue, Gold & White (Fight Colonials Fight!)
Established Unknown
Homepage

The Raymond J. Grey Junior High School, commonly abbreviated as R.J. Grey Junior High, is a middle school located in Acton, Massachusetts. The school serves 7th and 8th-grade students in Acton as well as its neighboring town of Boxborough.

Generally, after students successfully complete the eighth grade, they begin high school at the Acton-Boxborough Regional High School.

Contents

[edit] History

The building that is now Raymond J. Grey Junior High School was first built in 1957 as a high school, but, in 1973 the junior high school building (built in 1966) down the street was greatly enlarged, and the two schools swapped buildings. The Acton-Boxborough Regional Junior High School was later renamed "Raymond J. Grey" in honor of Raymond J. Grey, a former high school principal and superintendent of schools. The building was also renovated in 2002.

[edit] Academics

R.J. Grey is one of the top ranked schools in terms of performance on the MCAS test. In 2005, the eighth grade ranked tenth on the math portion of the test and twenty-second on the science portion in the state.[1] The seventh grade placed thirtieth in the state in 2005.[2]

The major subjects taught at R.J. Grey are Math, Science, English, Social Studies, and foreign languages including French or Spanish. In addition to these major subjects, students must also take exploratories. These exploratories consist of rotations through various classes such as Art, Music, Woodworking, Health, Study Skills, Drama, and Computer Literacy.

[edit] Grading

In the seventh grade, the final course grade for major subjects is the average of the four quarter grades. In eighth grade, the final course grade for major subjects is the average of the four quarter grades in addition to a mandatory final exam. Exploratories are graded on a pass/fail basis, so participation plays a key role in a passing grade.

Grade Score Quality
A+ 97-100 Exceptional
A 93-96
A- 90-92
B+ 87-89 Strong/Good
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79 Adequate
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D+ 67-69 Needs Improvement
D 63-66
D- 60-62
F 0-59 Failing

[edit] Team Structure

R.J. Grey has eight "teams" or "wings", with four per grade level. These divisions are meant to ensure that students receive more personalized attention from their teachers. It also creates an environment where the teachers on team can communicate before scheduling tests and major assignments, so that students are not overloaded. This method does not continue at the Acton-Boxborough Regional High School. Team names are assigned colors, either green, red, orange, or gold. Team classrooms are located in individual designated areas so that students are kept among familiar faces and aren't very far from any of their on-team classes. On team classes are the five major courses. All other classes, such as gym or lunch, are considered off team classes and are usually further away from a team's area.[3]

World Language is on-team and exploratories are off-team which is supposed to promote more team communication among the five major courses.

[edit] 7th Grade Teams

Grade 7[4] 7 Gold 7 Green 7 Orange 7 Red
English Ms. C. Duncan Ms. M. Scalice Mrs. L. Blagdon Mrs. C. Mohn
Math Mrs. J. McKendry Mrs. B. Hadden Mrs. J. MacDonald Ms. L. Nichols
Science Ms. E. Broadwater Mrs. M. Doiron Mrs. A. Finizio Miss J. Goulet
Social Studies Mrs. L. Bover Ms. K. Carter Mrs. J. Clark Mr. M. "The Man" Lewis
World Language Mrs. H. Dragone Ms. V. Wolckenhaar Mrs. R. Crown Mrs. L. Ramos
Special Education Mrs. V. Banyas
Mrs. S. Wilkinson
Ms. K. Byrne Mrs. K. Baglio Mrs. A. Roach
Mr. D. Reedy
Art Mrs. A. Correia
Music Mr. B. Specian
Study Skills Mrs. D. Roadman
Minuteman Tech (Woodworking) Mr. B. Crossman

[edit] 8th Grade Teams

Grade 8[4] 8 Gold 8 Green 8 Orange 8 Red
English Mrs. P. Higgins Ms. J. Vacca Mrs. V. Weeks Mrs. D. Ahl
Math Mrs. D. Keyworth Ms. J. Kelly Mrs. A. Gaebel Mr. P. Stameris
Science Mr. J. Edmonds Mr. A. Warner Ms. B. Schmirer Mrs. M. Shoemaker
Social Studies Ms. G. Berberian (replaced by Mr. Roadman) Mr. T. Nolan Mr. M. Balulescu Mrs. S. Heartlein
World Language Mrs. P. Reeves Ms. F. Gilfix Mrs. S. Probolus Mrs. C. Comella
Special Education Ms. K. Byrne Mrs. V. Banyas Mrs. A. Roach
Mrs. K. Baglio
Mr. D. Reedy
Art Mrs. H. Vlajinac
Life Skills
(Health)
Ms. B. Viscardi
Computer Literacy Ms. A. Kaplan
Minuteman Tech (Woodworking) Mr. M. Rodriquenz
Drama Ms. B. Abrams

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Top 8th grade schools on the 2005 MCAS
  2. ^ Top 7th grade schools on the 2005 MCAS
  3. ^ R.J. Grey Core Beliefs
  4. ^ a b http://ab.mec.edu/rjweb/0607handbook.pdf

[edit] External links