Mt. Pleasant Middle School Facts     All sixth grade students in the Livingston School District attend Mt. Pleasant Middle School. The singular focus at the “all sixth grade school” at Mt. Pleasant provides flexibility for the continuous improvement of program and activities to address the transitional needs of all students. Our students progress to Heritage Middle School to continue their middle level education in seventh and eighth grades.   {mpm_03} {mpm_01} {mpm02}   The middle school model is distinct from other levels of education in that the school is divided into small learning communities called teams. Our middle level teachers are experts in addressing the needs of young adolescents. Research indicates that the team structure improves teacher - student relationships and contributes to a greater sense of well-being and emotional support for students in a challenging learning environment. The teaching teams plan for instruction during a daily collaborative planning period. Team teachers carefully consider the needs of their students, and insure that their students are progressing toward desired outcomes. Our guidance counselors, child study team members, and student assistance counselors work closely with teachers and administrators to design necessary support and intervention strategies to engender success for all students. Teachers and counselors communicate directly with parents to advise them of their children’s progress in school. An advisory program enables caring staff to connect with students and to serve as a resource for addressing academic, emotional and social needs. During the advisory/study group period held during the last period of the day, students, teachers, and counselors work on students’ development of appropriate study skills, social skills and conflict management skills that contribute to academic success and development of positive peer relationships.   Students are assigned to one of four academic teams. Teams are comprised of faculty who teach integrated reading and language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and the cycle courses. Art, family and consumer science, integrated business applications, and technology education comprise the cycle course offerings. The duration of each cycle course is one marking period. Students may elect to take either Spanish or French joined with a general music course on an alternating A/B day schedule. Students will also have health and physical education class every day. Lunch periods are thirty minutes. A team time period follows each lunch period. During this segment, students are apprised of school and team announcements, and they receive bulletins and flyers for school and local community activities. At the conclusion of the school day, a daily rotational schedule during the advisory/support period provides opportunities for students to participate in advisory activities, elective music courses including band, orchestra and chorus, and school-wide enrichment activities under the auspices of the gifted and talented program. Instruction in basic skills and instructional support is also offered during this time period for eligible students. Students may also schedule time with teachers to complete work or seek instructional support.   An after-school co-curricular program is available for students. Late buses run at 4 P.M. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to accommodate students who desire to participate in intramural sports, student council, and dramatic productions. Students may hone literary and presentation skills working with the school newspaper, the literary magazine and the memory book. Parents are advised to visit the website daily to access the morning bulletin, teacher, co-curricular club and activities information.