Principal Letter

August 10th, 2009

Dear Parents,

I would like to welcome students and parents to Burns Middle School. We operate under the Model Middle School concept for our 6th graders which enhances our relationships with students and provides a smooth transition from elementary school. The upper grades follow a departmentalized bell schedule. We have excellent teachers and staff to serve our student's needs academically and socially.

Our elective program explores untapped talents in technology, Drama, Chorus, band, jazz band, robotics, Engineering Career Lab, EYE math & science hands on units and Art. Our School Improvement Plan was developed to enhance critical thinking skills of students and to apply technology as instructional delivery strategies. Our Language teachers have extensive training in teaching 6-traits writing skills.We offer intervention strategies for struggling math and reading students during and after school. We are becoming a 21st Century instructional technology school with the addition of interactive Smartboard technology and student Ultra laptops for research projects.

For the 2009-10 school year Burns is in year three of the EYE (engaging youth in engineering) program. This program is designed to introduce students to engineering through the application of math and science. Burns has a Robotics team, a 13 module engineering careers lab, 6th grade Lego robotics and quarterly collaborative math and science units where students design and engineer a product. Our goal is to give our students the introductory skills needed to plan their high school courses and see the connection between education and the surging technical job market in the Mobile metropolitan area.

With your help, we are confident your child will receive a well rounded educational experience at Burns Middle School. Working together we will promote a varied and resourceful learning environment that will lead the way in " Blazing the Trail to the Future!"

Sincerely,

John Adams