Coolidge Middle School (Reading, Massachusetts)

Coolidge Middle School
Established	1961
Type	Public
Principal	Craig Martin
Students	464 (2008-2009)
Grades	Middle school (6-8)
Location	Reading, Massachusetts, USA
District	Reading Public Schools
Accreditation	New England Association of Schools and Colleges Massachusetts State Department of Education
Colors	Red and White
Mascot	The Comet
Newspaper	The Coolidge Connection
Website	http://reading.k12.ma.us/coolidge/

A.W Coolidge Middle School is a public middle school in Reading, Massachusetts, USA. It was named after Arthur W. Coolidge, a Massachusetts politician who served multiple positions within the state government and was fourth cousin to U.S. President John Calvin Coolidge. Coolidge Middle is managed by Reading Public Schools. The current principal is Craig Martin, the Assistant Principal is Marie T. Pink. This award winning school has been designated a "Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School," a "NELMS Spotlight School," and a "21st Century School of Distinction."

Academics

Coolidge operates on a six day cycle to allow for greater flexibility in scheduling. The school day is divided into seven periods, each lasting 50 minutes. In the sixth grade, students have double blocks every other day for social studies and science and for language arts everyday. Each day in the cycle they have math class. The specials offered to students include art, music, wellness, library, and band, chorus, or an alternative enrichment. Eighth graders also choose an elective such as music composition, history of Rock and Roll, project adventure, art, web design or technology. The seventh and eighth grade have the four core subjects of language arts, math, social studies and science, in addition to their choice of French or Spanish. The students are grouped into teams (large classes). Each team has its own group of teachers. These teams are divided into groups (smaller classes) of about 25 students.

Core Values - Respect, Responsibility, and Honesty

Respect

“Respect is a quality that we can all define for ourselves, and we all know when we are receiving it and when we aren’t.”Ralph Cantor

Value yourself; appreciate what you have to offer

Be kind and caring

Treat others with courtesy and dignity

Understand and accept differences

Use good manners; be polite

Speak to others in a kind voice

Disagree with others politely

Solve problems without violence

Responsibility

“Look at the word responsibility— ‘response-ability’—the ability to choose your response. Highly proactive people recognize that responsibility. They do not blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice. . . .” Stephen Covey

Be accountable for your actions

Do what you know is right

Make good choices

Honor your commitments

Strive to always do your best

Be dependable

Do what needs to be done

Stay organized

Be on time

Honesty

Telling the truth helps you to feel secure and peaceful inside. Trust is something to be valued— as it is not easily regained, once lost.

Be fair and true in all you say or do

Honor your own work and accomplishments

Avoid lying, cheating, or stealing

Keep your promises and be trustworthy

Stand up for the truth even when silence is more comfortable

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Extracurricular

Coolidge offers a wide variety of after school activities such as peer leaders, science team, a drama program, math team, art club, student council, the school newspaper, various intramural sports, jazz band, select chorus, chime choir, chamber performing groups and yearbook. Students are encouraged to offer ideas for new activities.

Coolidge Science Olympiad Team

The Coolidge Science Olympiad team has earned the honor of representing the state of Massachusetts at the National Science Olympiad ([1]) in 18 out of the last 19 years. Up to 30 students from grades 6 through 8 competed in 23 separate events at the Massachusetts State Science Olympiad, held at Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts, in March 2011. The Coolidge Science Olympiad Team owes much of its success to the outpouring of assistance from parent volunteers and community donations. More information about the team can be found on their dedicated web site (http://www.CoolidgeScienceTeam.org).

Library Media Services

With the assistance of a strong PTO, the Coolidge library/media center is open Monday through Thursday until 4 p.m.. Coordinates: 42°32′23.74″N 71°06′37.38″W / 42.5399278°N 71.1103833°W / 42.5399278; -71.1103833