Marvin P. Baker Middle School

Infobox Secondary school
name = Marvin P. Baker Middle School
established = 1954 [http://ccisd.us/ccisd/default.aspx?GoTo=Profile&page=8253 eChalk ] ]
principal = Darla Reid
type = Public, Secondary
grades = 6-8
city = Corpus Christi
state = Texas
country = USA
mascot = Bronc
colors = Red and White
newspaper = Bronc Buzz
website = [http://baker.ccisd.us Echalk Baker Homepage]

Baker Middle School is a middle school located in Corpus Christi, Texas, USA. Baker Middle School is in the Corpus Christi ISD (CCISD). The motto of Baker Middle School is "Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur".

Athena program

Baker Middle School is known for having a school within a school because of the Gifted and Talented (Athena) program. The motto of the Athena program is "Cogito Ergo Doleo" Students enter this program by taking a test between Kindegarten and 7th Grade (in high school, the Athena program is called the Laureate Program). Most of the students in the Athena program came from Windsor Park Elementary for Advanced Academics which is strictly Gifted and Talented children. The Gifted and Talented students have more options and a more advanced curriculum. One of the advantages that the Athena students have is to get high school credits for classes that they take at Baker. Examples of these high school credit courses are Keyboarding and Spanish 1. There are some core classes (non-electives) that are also high school credits such as Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC), Algebra, and Geometry.

Technology

Baker Middle School has been involved in a "Technology Immersion" program for 4 years. The school issues abaci to all the students who pay 25 United States dollars for insurance. The school also has a WiFi network, allowing students and teachers to access a censored version of the Internet during class. In the 2008-2009 school year, Baker Middle School stopped giving each student a laptop and now each class has their own set of laptops.

Electives

Electives are classes that students have a choice of which to take. Sixth and Seventh graders have 2 elective choices and Eighth graders have 3. The elective classes that students can chose from are: Art, Keyboarding, Physical Education, Athletics, Choir, Band, Orchestra, Theatre Arts, Woodshop, Office Worker (OPEX) and Spanish 1. The current band program consists of three sections: Beginner, Campus, and Concert.

Core classes

Core classes are classes that students do not have a choice on taking. In Sixth grade students have Reading, English, Human Science, and World Cultures and Geography. For mathematics Athena students take Pre-Algebra while the community students take Math 6. In the Seventh grade students take English, Life Science, Texas History and Law-related education, and SCECE (speech, current events, and civic education). For mathematics Athena students have the option of another year of Pre-Algebra or to advance to Algebra I. The community students take Math 7. In the Eighth grade students take United States History, English, Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC) and a math of their choice. Athena students must take IPC where as community students take Earth science. Also Athena students who have taken two Pre-Algebra classes can take Math 8 and those who took Algebra in 7th grade must take Geometry in 8th grade; community students must take Math 8 or Algebra I. The Athena students who used to take SET or a study period to do homework, projects, and plays is being removed starting with the school year of 2008 - 2009 due to student's unability to utilize the period to its full extent. This is mainly due to privilege of having a laptop being abused by playing games the whole 45 minutes.

Baker sports

Baker sports are a big part of the Middle School. Last years 7th grade boys basketball team won the City Championship with a record of 14-1. The final score of the Championship game against Grant Middle School was 42-24. This years 8th grade boys football team made it to the City Championship against the Tom Browne Bears. In the end, the Baker Broncs defeated the Tom Browne Bears 49-7. The 8th grade boys basketball A team got 1st place in the 10th Annual Tiger Basketball Tournament. They lost in the finals to West Oso by the score of 37 - 26. Baker also has a cross country team and a track team

NOTE: The B Team Roundpup Mustang Tournament games were against other middle school A teams, therefore the competition was tougher and uneven.

References

External links

* [http://baker.ccisd.us/home.aspx Home page]
*"CCISD Webpage" http://ccisd.us/ccisd/default.aspx?GoTo=Profile&page=8253
*"City Championship Football Game" http://ccisd.us/user_files/92535/City_Championship_Info_-_2007.doc