At the Menands School, it’s not just about educating the future, it’s also about building tomorrow’s leaders today and doing so as the makeup of the community evolves to reflect the makeup of America.
Thanks to the support of the community, Menands School officials have implemented several changes in recent years that sharpened the skills of students—both academically and socially.
With the input of faculty, new English language arts and mathematics curricula have been implemented to better prepare students for their future learning.
“You can see the students better understanding what we are challenging them with,” said Middle School Math Teacher Megan Perfetti.
While implementing the new curriculum, the school has also emphasized social-emotional programming that, in conjunction with a focus on restorative practices, has significantly reduced disciplinary issues in the school.
Working in collaboration with teachers, Counselor Cheri VandenBerg helps students develop various coping mechanisms such as breathing exercises and “spaghetti body” (which is the progressive relaxation of muscles). She said students also learn the difference between big and small problems and how to address them.
“Is someone getting hurt? Is property being destroyed? That’s a big problem,” she said, as opposed to, for example, dropping a book or someone saying something mean.
Additionally, Sweethearts and Heroes organization and BRAVE student training emphasize the importance of being good citizens in the school and beyond.
Through monthly training sessions, the Sweethearts and Heroes organization is teaching students how to collaborate and spread anti-bullying messages with younger students in the school. Eventually, the students will spread the message and training to their contemporaries in the elementary school.
Student Makayla Levin said the training works.
“I am excited to come to school every day. … Menands is like a small village with no drama,” the seventh-grade student said.
Classmate Reef McCarthy agreed.
“I feel accepted by everyone, and I feel happy to see my friends every day,” he said.