Alton C. Crews Middle School

Alton C. Crews Middle School

Crews Middle School
Location
Lawrenceville, Georgia
United States
Information
School district Gwinnett County Public Schools
Principal Dr. Stacey Schepens
Grades 6-8
Enrollment 1250
Color(s) Maroon, Gold, Navy
Athletics Basketball, Cheerleading, Lacrosse
Mascot Bronco
Yearbook Lipizzan
Website http://crews.org/home.htm

Alton C. Crews Middle School is part of the Brookwood Cluster of Gwinnett County, Georgia, and part of Gwinnett County Public Schools. Dr. Stacey Schepens is the school principal.

Founded in 1996, the school is named after Dr. Alton C. Crews (1924–1996), a 13-year former superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools (1977–1989).[1]

With student population rising every year, the addition of classroom trailers has been constant. An addition to the school was completed in 2007-2008. There is a total of 14 classrooms - 10 regular education classrooms and 4 for resource. New renovations, including a new computer lab, were added as of August 2007. As of 2008, the school had more than 1,400 students.

In 2002 or 2003, after a tour of the technology laboratory at the school, the education minister for Curaçao invited Janet Blanchette, a Crews teacher, to visit that country and help train their teachers, since that country's school system was in the middle of a technology upgrade.[2]

Awards and recognition

Most recent recognition

In the 2005-2006 school year, Crews "outperformed every middle school in the Gwinnett County Public Schools system in 14 of the 15 areas measured in the state's Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests," and the school was the only one in the district to achieve a 100 percent passing rate. On the math subtest, the school achieved a 99 percent passing rate, according to the "Accountability Report" published by the school system.[3]

According to the school district, Crews' good test scores are "directly related to the culture of collaboration and professional learning among Crews Middle teachers." The 2006-2007 "Accountability Report" described the collaboration:[3]

"Teachers met weekly to examine common assessments, review instructional strengths and students' needs, and discuss and implement research-based instructional strategies. Professional learning emphasized the application of researched-based instructional strategies. These weekly meetings have proven beneficial."

Intel Schools of Distinction Award

In August 2006, the school won one of 16 Intel and Scholastic Schools of Distinction Awards recognized across the United States. The annual awards program honors schools for "implementing innovative and replicable programs that support positive educational outcomes and impact student achievement." Crews won its award for professional development.[4] According to the award's website, "Through leadership training, peer coaching, and mentoring opportunities, Alton C. Crews Middle School in Lawrenceville, GA, makes professional development a top priority. Everyone participates in the voluntary program, and creates a culture of collaboration."[5]

In 2010, Deborah Stringfellow was named Teacher of the Year for Gwinnett County Public Schools and one of the top finalists for the state of Georgia.

Along with $10,000 in award money, the school received $250,000 in "instructional prizes."[3] The school used the money to buy SmartBoards, which are something like a traditional chalk board, but which interact with computers, giving teachers the ability to save what is written on the board or project images from a computer file; and Student Response Systems, which allow students to enter their answers to questions into a handheld controller that sends the answer to a computer, according to The Gwinnett Daily Post. With this system, students punch in their answers to quizzes, allowing their teacher to see instantly how well they understand a concept. Intel gave the school three SmartBoards, and the school bought 10 more with the award money.[6]

Georgia "Pay for Performance" award

In January 2004, the school was one of 68 across the state which received award grants from the Georgia Department of Education in return for meeting achievement goals and effectively collaborating as a faculty. The school was awarded $130,456 for performance in the 2002-2003 school year.[7]

Academic programs

In 2005, the school began offering Latin language classes, and out of 445 students in the eighth grade, 104 elected to take the course.[8] Latin is no longer offered at the school.[9]

At Crews, "Connections" classes (sometimes called specials in other schools) are extra classes which still make up part of a student's academic grade. Three Connections classes are electives, and these are all musical connections: Band, Orchestra, and Chorus. As of the 2009-10 school year, the students have some say in which connections classes they take. Other Connections include Computer Science, Art, Technology Education, Peer Leading (8th grade only), and Media Center Assistants (7th and 8th grades only).

"Probe" or "gifted" classes are advanced courses in certain subjects: English, math, social studies, and science.

In "inclusion classes," for one period a day, a special education teacher and the regular education teacher "team teach" the same class, in order for special education students (as well as regular students) to get more attention. Inclusion classes are taught in social studies, math, language arts, and mainly science (since special education teachers, who can teach the other three primary subjects on their own, cannot teach science in each grade level). There are no inclusion connections classes.

Music programs

Chorus

Chorus began at Crews in 1997, but due to budget cuts, chorus was lifted from the Connections program. In 2005, a new chorus teacher at Crews brought the program back. They have been very successful, such as the 6th grade chorus performing in combination with the 6th grade band and orchestra, and presenting a 10th anniversary concert on May 1, 2007 for Crews' 10th Anniversary Dedication. They have won numerous awards from GMEA for superior ratings. Many of the students go on to sing with the Brookwood High School Choruses. Many singers also participate in community choirs such as The Gwinnett Young Singers and Gwinnett Young Men's Ensemble, and various church choirs.

Band

The band has been in existence for 14 years. It is run by Frank Folds, who has been working at Crews Middle School since its opening, and Amanda Hertel. Memorable moments include performing at UGA, the award winning Bronco Marching Band. Many of the students continue taking band after the 6th grade connections orientation, either by going on to orchestra, or continuing in the regular connections spiral. Many of the band students go on to march in the Brookwood High School Bronco Marching Band and Concert Bands, and Honors Orchestra (band and string students combined). Also, they have had many students make the Georgia Allstate Band.

Frank Folds was the 2008-2009 Teacher of the Year at Crews. He has led the Crews Middle School band students to LGPE (Large Group Performance Evaluation) for the past several years with superior ratings. He is regarded as one of the best band directors in the state of Georgia.

Instruments in the band include brass, woodwinds, low winds, and percussion.

Orchestra

The Orchestra has won numerous awards, performing at UGA, GMEA festivals, and the Governor's Mansion. Many of the students go on to play with the award-winning Brookwood High School Orchestras, and Honors Orchestra (band and strings students combined). They have had many students make the Georgia Allstate and Statewide Honor Orchestras. Sydney Mellard and Ashley Phillips are the directors of the orchestra program.

Reader's Rally

Crews has an excellent Reader's Rally team that placed first in Gwinnett County in 2012. They also placed second in the county in 2014 and 2015.

Musical theatre

A musical is put on every year at Crews, usually in the spring.

Crews News club

Since 2005, Crews Middle School's announcements are made on air. Students are the anchors on this show; it lets them see what it feels like to be in the spotlight. It broadcasts on Mondays and Thursdays.

References

  1. ↑ "General", from Alton C. Crews Middle School Web site, accessed June 20, 2007
  2. ↑ "Teacher gets dream trip to Curacao/ Schools want tech expertise", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, January 27, 2003, page JJ5
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Accountability Report/ Results-Based Evaluation System / Issued 2006-2007", Gwinnett County Public Schools Web site, accessed June 20, 2007
  4. ↑ "16 Schools Named Winners of the 2006 Intel and Scholastic Schools of Distinction Awards", Intel Corporation news release dated August 22, 2006. Accessed June 20, 2007
  5. ↑ "2006 Awards", Intel Schools of Distinction Web site. Accessed June 20, 2007.
  6. ↑ Darenberg, Heather. "Cash, gizmos go with school’s distinction label", The Gwinnett Daily Post, December 27, 2006.
  7. ↑ "Georgia General Assembly / Senate Resolution 803", Georgia State Legislature, accessed June 20, 2007
  8. ↑ Madan, Rubina. "Crews Middle School begins offering Latin language class", The Gwinnett Daily Post, September 18, 2005
  9. ↑ Web page "Curriculum", Alton C. Crews Middle School Web site, accessed June 20, 2007

External links

Coordinates: 33°54′32″N 84°00′40″W / 33.909°N 84.011°W