Dear Parents,

We would like to share a unique and exciting opportunity with you and your child. At our core, Sagewood Middle School is committed to our students and providing an exceptional experience that supports and enhances each student's personal growth. To help achieve this goal, we have the opportunity to participate in an exciting and enriching experience that will enhance a student's awareness of self and ownership of their learning.

STEP (Student/Teacher Emergenetics Program) is a distinctive and results-oriented learning system built on Emergenetics brain research and theory that has been tailored specifically for students. The foundation of this model is the Emergenetics Youth Report, which identifies a student's thinking and behavioral preferences in seven research-based attributes. While we all possess some degree of each attribute, the report allows students to understand what gives them energy, how they prefer to think, communicate, and learn, and builds an appreciation for diverse approaches. The result is increased motivation, engagement, self-awareness and an ability to collaborate successfully in cognitively diverse teams. STEP also provides teachers and advisors with the tools, training and knowledge to enhance students acceptance and tolerance of others for a comprehensive STEP solution. Teachers will group students with different strengths areas to work together to complete a project or solve problems. We call this grouping a WE team. This enables students to work with their strengths and gain the point of view and strengths of other students to complete an assignment. In WE Teams, students collaborate using their strengths in problem solving, creativity, organization, and discussion to help the group be successful.

All students at SGMS have participated in the STEP questionnaire/survey. Sixth grade students are surveyed at the beginning of the year in their Social Studies class. Students new to SGMS are surveyed during ELT at the beginning of the year. If you have any questions, please contact me at laurie.penzenstadler@dcsdk12.org. Should you have questions about the STEP tool and how it can be used to support instruction, learning and differentiation, you can access additional information at https://www.emergenetics.com/ or check out the links below.

Sagewood Middle School continues to be committed to providing the best educational programming for your student. We are excited about this incredible opportunity to further enhance the educational experience for all.