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Information About Middle School Transition to Wiley Campus

Feb. 1, 2017 -- Monticello and Roxboro middle schools will come together on the Wiley campus at the start of the 2017-2018 academic year. CH-UH District staff have been working over the past several months to formulate plans, procedures and particulars of how this transition will impact our students, staff, families and community.

Below you will find answers to many of the questions we have been getting from parents and community members. As this transition is such a unique circumstance, this information may not be exhaustive, so please send any further questions to [email protected]. We will follow up with more information as it becomes available, including August Open House dates.

Will the schools be separated?
Yes and no. The Ohio Department of Education has recommended that CH-UH maintain two separate middle schools--on paper--for data reporting purposes. Thus, the District cannot combine state IRN numbers to create one “school” during this transition period.

While there will technically be two middle schools on paper, the two schools will be sharing the same physical space and have a number of classes and activities together as one.

How will students feel connected to their school?
The goal is to have students connect as one Tiger Nation middle school. Yes, each student will be designated as “belonging” to a specific school. However, with all of the shared space and shared activities, the goal is to bring students and staff together as one “Heights Middle School”.

Will the building wings be separated based on school or grade level?
Each grade level, regardless of school, will be housed in a separate wing of the building. Please refer to the color-coded building map for more information.

What will be shared space between the two schools?
All administrators, teachers and other staff members will be mixed throughout the building to enhance collaborative planning and increase the levels of support provided for all students from both schools. Students will have opportunities to share common areas in the building, including the cafeteria, media center, gymnasiums and auditorium.

What classes will include students from both schools?
Monticello and Roxboro students will share honors and high school credit courses, music courses including band and choir, and gym courses. Students will also have a common lunchtime in the cafeteria.

Will extracurricular activities, including athletics, be shared or separate?
The schools will be combined for many extracurricular activities, including some athletic teams depending on student participation numbers. School dances and recognition ceremonies will also be combined. More information regarding athletic teams will be forthcoming.

When can students and parents tour the Wiley campus?
We will hold two orientation meetings at Wiley during the month of February for middle school parents and students:

  • Rising 7th and 8th graders - Monday, Feb. 13, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
  • Rising 6th graders - Thursday, Feb. 16, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Tours will be given at 6:00 p.m. and orientation programming will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Wiley Auditorium.

In support of our families who have students with special needs, we will provide a specific opportunity for them to stay after the main orientation to address any additional concerns or needs.

The District is also planning to schedule similar Open House dates in August. Those dates and agendas are still to be determined.

When will parents receive the typical summer and fall program information?
The middle school principals will send out end of the year letters, as usual, in May with summer reading, summer school and fall sports information. The principals will also send out welcome back letters in early August with dates for campus tours, 6th grade orientation and first day of school information.

What will be done to help students transition from neighborhood elementary schools to a “regional” middle school?
The orientation sessions, tours and open house events will be geared towards alleviating any anxiety around the transition to the Wiley campus. Additionally, school counselors will be discussing the transition this year with rising middle school students to help prepare them for the transition in the fall.

We recognize that the transition from elementary to middle school is already challenging enough for students. It also is a time of adjustment for parents and caregivers. Rest assured that the District will have the resources and staff in place to make the move to Wiley as seamless and productive as possible. The success and safety of our students is always of paramount importance and we have taken every precaution to be thoughtful in our planning and preparation.

We appreciate your support and assistance, and welcome you to reach out to middle school counselors or principals with any specific concerns regarding your child.

What will be the qualifications for busing?
Students living farther than two miles from the Wiley school building will be eligible for busing. The distance is determined using a transportation-specific software program (Versatrans) that measures the walking distance from a residence to the school building. Busing eligibility information will be available in Infinite Campus at a later date.

Where will I drop off and pick up my student at Wiley?
The traffic pattern will be similar to the current high school setup at Wiley. Cars will enter from the south driveway off Miramar Boulevard and follow around the school building and Board of Education building. Parents will drop students off at the main entrance to the school. Buses will follow an opposite pattern to allow students to exit the bus directly onto the sidewalk.

Please refer to the traffic pattern map for more information.

Will there be any changes to food services for breakfast and lunch?
No, all food services will remain the same with universal free breakfast and lunch provided to all students. All students will eat in the cafeteria by grade level.

Will the curriculum or course offerings change?
No, the middle school core curriculum will still consist of English language arts, science, social studies and math with high school credit available in algebra, geometry and world language. Students also take courses in physical education, music and art. The world language curriculum includes courses in Chinese, Spanish and American Sign Language.

What support systems will be in place for students?
All of the traditional middle school support systems will be in place for students, including multiple school counselors, a social worker, a school psychologist and safety monitors. Special education programming will include the full continuum of services.

The district is planning to take full advantage of having all middle school teachers in the same space. Teachers will be able to collaborate with each other to provide the strongest academic and social-emotional supports for CH-UH middle school students.

Where do I go if I have a question specific to my child?
You can talk with an administrator or staff member associated with your child’s school designation (Monticello or Roxboro). A listing of those staff designations will be made available prior to the school year. However, all CH-UH staff members are ultimately there to assist students and their families, so don’t hesitate to reach out to anyone.

How will administrators use Infinite Campus to communicate information?
For student-specific information, administrators will communicate about their designated school in Infinite Campus. However, there may be shared information that will go out to families of both schools via Infinite Campus.

Attachments Available To Download:
Color Coded Map of Wiley Building
Middle School Drop-Off Traffic Flow