Class Schedule
A typical day at Joan MacQueen Middle School.
Classroom Rules
We take care of ourselves, others, and things.
Our Team
Learn more about your teachers and staff.
SDC Student creates a coil clay pot during art.
Welcome
Dear families and Dust Devils,
We are delighted to extend a warm welcome to our new and returning students for the upcoming 2023-24 academic year. As a team, we are eager to make this year a memorable one for your child. Building on our past successes, we are excited to explore new horizons and create a positive learning environment. With a collaborative approach between families and educators, we are confident that your child will thrive academically and socially. Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education.
Important Notes
ClassDojo: Remember to turn on notifications on ClassDojo to receive live updates and messages throughout the day about your student.
Supplies: Please be sure to send your student with an extra change of clothes and other essentials such as water, diapers, and snacks.
Drop-Offs: Please do not drop off your student at the side gate earlier than 7:50 AM on regularly scheduled school days.
Communication: Please be sure to regularly check your child's backpack for a Home Communication Folder.
Critical Thinking
Our goal is to equip students with the necessary behavioral cues and expectations that will enable them to navigate their school, community, and future workplaces with ease.
Students learn to navigate as they complete a shopping trip.
Student interacts with staff-guided digital instructional program.
Communication
We are thrilled to offer an array of dynamic reading intervention strategies at our center, such as the renowned Orton-Gillingham approach. Additionally, we integrate supplementary curricula like Read Naturally and iReady to enhance learning. Our unwavering aim is to provide students with a comprehensive, hands-on, and individualized program that caters to their unique literacy needs. We are passionate about empowering our students to achieve their full potential.
Adaptibility
Our goal is to equip our students with age-appropriate coping skills that enable them to handle stress, anxiety, or anger effectively. We understand that not all kids naturally possess these skills, and every child responds differently to coping tools. Hence, we utilize diverse approaches to present concepts that suit each child’s learning style, incorporating interdisciplinary standards such as literacy, health, the arts, mindsets, and behaviors. We understand how important it is for our students to develop these skills and be able to use them independently. We support this process by providing them with the tools they need to succeed.
Students use breathing techniques to help transition to next activity.
Peer tutor supports a student with a disability during guided life skills activity.
Leadership
Students are able to take advantage of a caring and supportive community culture, where they can receive personalized assistance from service providers or peer tutors who are passionate about helping them achieve their goals.
Responsibility
Our approach combines the best of both worlds - technology and traditional tools - to help students achieve personal growth and success, ultimately benefitting our community as a whole.
Tower Garden 2022-23.mp4
Mr. Herrera teaches a student about developing emotional reslience.
Empathy
Our focus is on enhancing the social and emotional skills of students, enabling them to overcome stress and emerge stronger from challenges. We aim to teach them the art of bouncing back. We understand the importance of nurturing the social and emotional skills of students, especially during challenging times. Our goal is to empower them with the ability to bounce back and thrive in the face of adversity. Let's work together to guide them towards a brighter future.