Hello!

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Valders Middle School.  I believe it is vital that the principal be visible and available throughout the school day.  You will see me in the Cafetorium in the morning greeting students as they begin their day.  I am in the hallways between each hour making connections with the students and staff and at lunch and recess daily.  I truly enjoy these times as it allows me to build relationships with the middle school students and staff.

I am proud to say that our middle school is a PBIS-Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports school.  Through PBIS, students learn the importance of being Responsible, Respectful and Safe.  PBIS actively encourages students to achieve their academic potential while also behaving with good character and doing what is right.  The goal is to design the most effective learning community with the best outcomes for all students.

Besides the implementation of PBIS, the middle school is also in the second year of Standards Based Grading.  Standards Based Grading allows teachers to clearly communicate specific areas of strength and need with the students and parents.  The standards are created into easy to understand “I Can” statements.  Ultimately, standards-based grading gives a clear and concise answer to what standards a student is doing well in and what standards a student needs to improve on.  Standards Based Grading facilitates teaching and learning better than any other grading method.

Finally, the middle school has moved into a block schedule for fifth and sixth grade, seventh grade Math and English Language Arts and eighth grade English Language Arts.  A block schedule allows teachers more time to complete their lessons throughout the day.  It allows students to apply the information that they are learning in class and ask teacher’s questions if they do not understand something.  Longer time in class allows for projects, peer-to-peer collaboration, and one-on-one work between teachers and students.

I truly enjoy serving you and your children at Valders Middle School.  You are welcome to come to visit at anytime and see the great things that are going on at our school.

Kelly Isselmann
Middle School Principal