Welcome Back

Alton Middle School

Junior Redbirds!!!!

Alton Middle School welcomes students back on Wednesday, August 18th.  Students will experience a half day attendance schedule from 8:30AM to 11:45AM (Normal School Hours are from 8:30AM to 3:15PM).  We are looking forward to a successful 2010 - 2011 school year.

Go Junior Redbirds!!!!!

Visit Alton Middle School and enjoy playing exciting new games with your children.

Alton Middle School

Junior Redbirds

Proudly invite your family to attend… Family Game Night
And Open House!
Tuesday August 31st, 2010
Fun From:

6:30PM to 8:00PM

• Bring the whole family and play games.
• Win prizes (including the games!)
• Enjoy food for sale in the food court (all proceeds to fund field trips.)
• Tour the school with your child.
• Meet Alton Middle School Faculty.
• Have an enormous amount of Fun!

  Please RSVP by August 24th!

Students please turn your RSVP into your Advisory Teacher!

Message from the Principal:

Hello and thank you for visiting the webpage for the award winning Alton Middle School!  In 2010 we were identified as a School to Watch by The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform.  This distinction confirms our commitment to a rigorous curriculum, responsiveness to adolescent development, social equity, and organizational structure that supports our trajectory toward excellence. 

We are located in southwestern Illinois atop the bluffs of the Mississippi River.  Due to our proximity to the St. Louis region, we are able to offer a variety of cultural experiences associated with a metropolitan area while maintaining personal relationships with our students, families and community through Professional and Smaller Learning Communities models.

We are entering our 5th year at the old high school campus and continue to make strides to improve our physical plants.  Restrooms have been entirely renovated, our auditorium is being reconditioned, technology is improving by broadening our bandwith and offering wireless service to our classrooms, the public address system has been updated, mounted LCD projectors have been installed in every room, and display cases and a concession stand have been added to our gym lobby.   It has been a joy to see the transformations that keep our learning environment cutting edge. 

The Alton School District is a leader in Illinois in establishing Positive Behavior and Intervention Systems that coordinate with our social/emotional learning curriculum.  Beginning this Fall we will be providing direct instruction of Peace4Kids on Tuesdays in our advisory classes.  You should expect that your children will return home talking about ways to peacefully resolve conflict, restore relationships, and redeem themselves by “respecting yourself, others, and property.”  Lessons constructed to teach children how to manage emotions, relate to others, and accept responsibility will assist in creating productive citizens for a diverse society. 

Our technology upgrades are allowing us to offer 3 sections of web-based algebra, online formative benchmark assessments to monitor student growth, a reading “oasis”, and universal lessons that target historical weaknesses associated with the Illinois State Standards.  The universal lessons can be presented to the whole class, small group, or individuals through the LCD projectors and web-based tutorials.  We have tiered levels of instruction in our language arts classes, universal screeners in math and reading, and tiered interventions for behavior. 

All of our sports are building off the success our 8th grade boy’s basketball team had last year finishing 3rd in the State in the largest class.  We are looking forward to state qualifiers in all of our team and individual sports for the 2010-2011 school year!

Of course our vision and successes are not possible without the support of the families that make up our school community.  We have high expectations for all that enter our “Houses” and make it a priority to maintain a safe and nurturing environment for everyone.  We’re always looking for ways to improve by “thinking solutions.”  On your next trip to AMS or the web, please stop and say hi or send a quick email with your greeting.  As a 2010 School to Watch, we are committed to our vision of “experiencing academic and social success by deepening our relationships with students, families, and the community!”

                                                                            Keep Going!

                                                                                                David Schwartz

                                                                                                Principal, Alton Middle School