MIDDLE SCHOOL
Keeping Community Close During Closure
TAMS
During the campus closure last spring, teachers at Thornton Academy Middle School( TAMS) knew that parents and students were looking to them to provide consistency and composure during a turbulent time. Through crash courses in Zoom and Google Meets, sharing online resources with colleagues, and building on classroom structures that were already in place, TAMS teachers got to work. In a task that has been compared by some to building a plane in mid-air, the staff and students proved that they were up to the task at hand and found ways to keep the TAMS community close, even during the physical closure of campus.
After a few weeks of remote learning, a group of TAMS teachers decided that they wanted to extend their efforts beyond their classroom lessons. Since TAMS opened its doors in 2006, the ability to build and maintain relationships with students, both in and out of the classroom, has always been a source of pride; it is one of the things that makes TAMS such a special place. With the support of TAMS’ principal, Mrs. Robert, a small group of staff met weekly to plan and organize activities that would increase contact with the students, and provide“ teachable moments” beyond their virtual classroom interactions.
Out of these meetings came a variety of opportunities for students and teachers to connect and continue to build the TAMS community in meaningful ways. It all started with teachers and staff recording themselves reading children’ s books, song lyrics, or verses from a poem. The videos were then released weekly on the TAMS Facebook page. It was a success— teachers were able to interact with students, their families, and the community while sharing positive messages from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
With the positive response towards the Facebook videos, the group continued to plan activities, such as a virtual Spirit Week, online lunch groups, Zoom special guests, and class
Congratulations TAMS 8th graders!
Last spring, when the eighth grade class at TAMS didn’ t get to celebrate the culmination of their middle school days in a traditional way, the eighth grade parent group and teachers found a way to honor their achievements with celebratory yard signs.
Congratulations TAMSters! show-and-tells. Students and teachers alike were hungry for the sense of community that these opportunities fostered, and looked forward to these ongoing connections.
While the fall still holds many uncertainties, the TAMS community continues to seek ways to build relationships, create opportunities for connectivity, and support their students and families through these ever-changing times.
14 Story by Bob LaPauloue ' 93 · Photos Courtesy of TAMS Staff