Punta Gorda Middle School

Infobox School
name = Punta Gorda Middle School


setting=Suburban
type = Public
grades = 6-8
principal = Cathy Corsaletti
streetaddress =825 Carmalita Street
city = Punta Gorda
zipcode = 33950
state = FL
country = United States of America
founded = 1971
motto =
enrollment = 1,039 (as of 2005-06)
faculty = 52.0 (on FTE basis)
ratio = 20.0
athletics =
school colors = Red and Blue colorbox|red colorbox|blue
mascot = Eagles
website = http://pgm.ccps.k12.fl.us/

Punta Gorda Middle School (PGMS) is a middle school in Punta Gorda, Florida operated by the Charlotte County Public Schools board. The majority of its students graduate to either Port Charlotte High School or Charlotte High School.

As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,039 students and 52.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 20.0. [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=1200240&SchoolPageNum=2&ID=120024000302 Punta Gorda Middle School] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 26, 2007.]

History

Punta Gorda Middle School was built in 1971 with an initial enrolment of less than 500 students in grades 7 to 9. As of 2006, PGMS had an enrolment of 1046 for students in grades 6 to 8. When Donna E. di Grazia became principal in 1993, she established an academic program with a strong focus on reading, math, and technology.cite web |url=http://www.ccps.k12.fl.us/Downloads/ConstructionCorner/ConstructionCornerV4.pdf |title=News Release—Ground Breaking Charlotte County Public Schools |date=2006-10-03 |accessdate=2007-12-23 |format=pdf |publisher=Charlotte County Public Schools ] Di Grazi retired in December 2006 and Assistant Principal Cathy Corsaletti was promoted to take over. [cite news |first=Anna |last=Scott |title=Educator wraps up 31-year career |url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061201/NEWS/612010328/-1/Help0530 |publisher=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |date=2006-12-01 |accessdate=2007-12-23 ]

Academic standards

Since the 2000-2001 school year, PGMS has yearly earned an "A" grade in state testing. [cite web |url=http://schoolgrades.fldoe.org/default.asp?action=verifySelectionSchool&report=SG&districts=08&schoolYear=2006-2007%2C2005-2006%2C2004-2005%2C2003-2004%2C2002-2003%2C2001-2002%2C2000-2001%2C1999-2000%2C1998-1999&school_grade=&level=School&schoolNumbers=080121 |title=School Accountability Report |accessdate=2007-12-23 |publisher=Florida Department of Education ]

Hurricane destruction and rebuilding

Punta Gorda Middle School was destroyed by Hurricane Charley on August 13 2004, and from August 30 2004, students were bussed to Murdock Middle School, where they attended classes from 8 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. and Murdock students attended from 2 to 7:10 p.m. In February 2005, students returned to the PGMS grounds and a temporary modular school. [cite news |first=Kevin |last=Dale |title=Students take a shine to Punta Gorda Middle |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-18688484_ITM |publisher=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |date=2005-02-12 |accessdate=2007-12-23 ] A new three-storey school building is anticipated to open in the summer of 2008 with a capacity of 1200 students. [cite news |first=Kate |last=Spinner |title=Rebuilt Peace River Elementary School ready for classes |url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20071204/NEWS/712040474/1419/RSS04 |publisher=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |date=2007-12-04 |accessdate=2007-12-23 ] The cafeteria, gym, and classrooms will be separate buildings with improved access security and able to withstand to withstand Level 3 hurricane winds of up to 110 mph. It is also designed to be able to house refugees in case of another hurricane. [cite news |first=Sara |last=Lubbes |title=Board likes school plans |url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060329/NEWS/603290651 |publisher=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |date=2006-03-29 |accessdate=2007-12-23 ] Students are bringing donations of books to help rebuild the school library which lost its entire collection. [cite news |first=Jenny Lee |last=Allen |title=Charley destroyed books, historical papers in Punta Gorda |url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20041015/NEWS/410150333/1385/SPECIAL0111 |publisher=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |date=2004-10-15 |accessdate=2007-12-23 ]

Notable faculty

Karrie Wikman, sixth-grade science teacher, won Charlotte County's 2006 "Teacher of the Year" award. [cite news |first=Dan |last=Tierney |title=Punta Gorda Middle teacher named 'Teacher of the Year' |url=http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/022305/tp3ch10.htm?date=022305&story=tp3ch10.htm |publisher=Charlotte Sun-Herald |date=2005-02-23 |accessdate=2007-12-23 ]

References

External links

* [http://pgm.ccps.k12.fl.us/ School site]
* [http://www.ccps.k12.fl.us/ District site]