Black River Middle School Goes To Washington

Last month at the national Schools to Watch Conference in Washington, D.C., Black River Middle School administrator Michele Stanton teamed with language arts teacher Joseph Pizzo to share the school’s advisory program with other award-winning middle schools from across the nation.

The honor was the latest in a string of honors for the Chester Consolidated School District who recently saw Bragg School principal Dan Johnson (who announced he was leaving Chester for Sparta High School) was named and , were invited to share their landmark mentoring program with their counterparts from other districts.

Stanton gave the history of BRMS’s implementation of the advisory program that has provided an opportunity for students in grades 6-8 to create a family-style team of four sixth, four seventh, and four eighth graders. 

Stanton said that every teacher had an advisory group, and all students participate. Each week, activities are designed so these mini-families of students share their successes and help each other to solve problems.

According to Stanton, at the end of each year, the teams write farewell notes to the graduating eighth graders and welcoming notes to the incoming sixth graders.

When it was his turn to speak, Pizzo focused on the research that supports an advisory program that reinforces valuable social lessons and behaviors while recognizing the need for security and fun. 

Pizzo said a variety of researcher's work, including Vygotsky’s social research, emphasizes the importance of playfulness in learning significant skills. 

Pizzo also cited McGregor’s business management-based Theory “X” (Micromanaging) and Theory “Y” (Humanistic Managing). 

“Many shy students have found comfort in having a place where they can talk freely while feeling supported and appreciated,” Pizzo said.

To make the experience interactive, Stanton and Pizzo placed learning stations around the room. Participants attempted a variety of team-building tasks including drinking cup stacking, word puzzles, interesting factoids, and the creation of a Schools to Watch logo complete with the signatures of all participants.  

Stanton said she was both “honored” and “inspired” to present at the conference.

“Many of our current practices were validated, and we heard about new ones to explore,” Stanton said.

Pizzo said some of the school professionals from New York, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina are interested in using technology to share classroom lessons and professional development opportunities including best practices exchanges and book studies.

"The thought-provoking conference experience will certainly assist in keeping our best practices up to date and our students reaching their potential,” Pizzo said.