Board of Education Approves Junior Academy at DEOMS

The New Milford Board of Education approved the Junior Academy at David E. Owens Middle School at their meeting on Monday night. They also approved new courses that will be offered to students in grades six, seven and eight beginning in September.

The Junior Academy will give eighth grade students a taste of what will be available at the Academies@NMHS. 

"On Thursday April 28 there will be an open house at the middle school for parents where they will receive the official draft of new course offerings," said Danielle Shanley, director of curriculum and instruction. "There will also be student meetings that week and they will then make their course selections."

Shanley said students in all grades at the middle school will be able to select two electives of their choice. There are nine periods in the schedule, according to district officials, and five will be core courses, one will be for physical education, another for lunch and the two remaining periods will be for electives.

"You only have a certain amount of teachers and sections," said Shanley. "Just like at the high school the requests will drive how many sections we will run."

Seventh graders will be enrolled in a "cycle course" where they will take Spanish, French, Mandarin and World Cultures during the course of the school year. Shanley said this will enable students to make an informed decision about which foreign language course they would like to enroll in for the eighth grade.

Shanley said choices in courses at the middle school will not dictate course selections once they move to the high school. The final draft of  courses being offered this fall will be available at the open house on April 28--courses will include graphics, robotics and more.