MS experience at DHMS

[Anonymous]

We are a 5th grade family at Innovation, heading to DHMS next year.

We have heard all these stories about disruptive kids in middle school (even fights), lots of time on the iPad, and chaotic lunch times.

Is it really that different then elementary school? How has everyone’s experience been? Spouse is pushing to move to Howard County because he wants a more suburban and less crowded school system and I think it will be fine

[Anonymous]

We are a Swanson family. Hopefully you will get some specifics about Hamm.

I think the jump to middle school is a big one. It's very different from elementary school. But not all of that is bad. They change classes and they are expected to keep track of their own assignments and tests and they gain a lot of independence. And yes, based on the age, there will be fights in a middle school (happened in my rural town back in the 90s) and some chaos. Middle school can be a social-emotional dumpster fire, that's for sure. There are a lot more kids. Again, can be a good thing. A lot more social options. My kid has genuinely loved the jump to middle school. He was very ready for the independence and says it's his favorite year of school so far. I'm sure not all kids have the same experience though.

They definitely use their ipads to take tests and the ipad is how they keep track of all their assignments, turn in work, message their teachers, access study guides and assignments, etc. I don't view this as a bad thing though. This is how this generation goes to school. There's no more bubble sheets and sharpen your number 2 pencils. But I do see a fair amount of paper and pencil assignments in my son's bag during the times I've had a reason to look. Particularly in reading and writing, still a lot of pencil and paper.

[Anonymous]

They have a new assistant principal, Crystal Moore. She came from Drew and is fantastic. While this isn't an answer to your question, I would be optimistic that they will have strong leadership

[Anonymous]

Middle school is a HUGE shift from ES. It's a school filled with 11-14 yo. You can't begin to compare the things these kids have access to, know, experience to 5-11 yr olds. So there are issues at play that elementary schools would not experience.

I'm not sure how different it would be in Howard Co, middle school dynamics are more about hormones and normal adolescent development. That being said, smaller classes could be helpful if they have that "further out". In APS, your kids teachers are not going to contact you unless there is a major behavioral issue. They do not contact you if your kid is missing assignments, failing tests or falling behind. You kid has to initiate getting extra help, test re-takes on their own. This was a huge adjustment for my A/B advanced math kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Middle school is a HUGE shift from ES. It's a school filled with 11-14 yo. You can't begin to compare the things these kids have access to, know, experience to 5-11 yr olds. So there are issues at play that elementary schools would not experience.

I'm not sure how different it would be in Howard Co, middle school dynamics are more about hormones and normal adolescent development. That being said, smaller classes could be helpful if they have that "further out". In APS, your kids teachers are not going to contact you unless there is a major behavioral issue. They do not contact you if your kid is missing assignments, failing tests or falling behind. You kid has to initiate getting extra help, test re-takes on their own. This was a huge adjustment for my A/B advanced math kid.

Why can't we be given access to the online grading system in real time, like parent view. Do they do mid-term progress reports at least?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middle school is a HUGE shift from ES. It's a school filled with 11-14 yo. You can't begin to compare the things these kids have access to, know, experience to 5-11 yr olds. So there are issues at play that elementary schools would not experience.

I'm not sure how different it would be in Howard Co, middle school dynamics are more about hormones and normal adolescent development. That being said, smaller classes could be helpful if they have that "further out". In APS, your kids teachers are not going to contact you unless there is a major behavioral issue. They do not contact you if your kid is missing assignments, failing tests or falling behind. You kid has to initiate getting extra help, test re-takes on their own. This was a huge adjustment for my A/B advanced math kid.

Why can't we be given access to the online grading system in real time, like parent view. Do they do mid-term progress reports at least?

The kids can see it. I don’t know if we can. But you can use your kid’s school iPad and account to see it.

[Anonymous]

The DHMS building and campus are phenomenal. Probably the best, facility-wise in APS (if not the entire DC area) for a middle school. Kids aren't old enough yet, but I've heard the teachers and admin there are very good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middle school is a HUGE shift from ES. It's a school filled with 11-14 yo. You can't begin to compare the things these kids have access to, know, experience to 5-11 yr olds. So there are issues at play that elementary schools would not experience.

I'm not sure how different it would be in Howard Co, middle school dynamics are more about hormones and normal adolescent development. That being said, smaller classes could be helpful if they have that "further out". In APS, your kids teachers are not going to contact you unless there is a major behavioral issue. They do not contact you if your kid is missing assignments, failing tests or falling behind. You kid has to initiate getting extra help, test re-takes on their own. This was a huge adjustment for my A/B advanced math kid.

Why can't we be given access to the online grading system in real time, like parent view. Do they do mid-term progress reports at least?

The kids can see it. I don’t know if we can. But you can use your kid’s school iPad and account to see it.

You can see the grades in Parentvue at the same time as the kids can see them in Studentvue. So as long as the teacher is keeping up with grading and posting it, you can get real time information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middle school is a HUGE shift from ES. It's a school filled with 11-14 yo. You can't begin to compare the things these kids have access to, know, experience to 5-11 yr olds. So there are issues at play that elementary schools would not experience.

I'm not sure how different it would be in Howard Co, middle school dynamics are more about hormones and normal adolescent development. That being said, smaller classes could be helpful if they have that "further out". In APS, your kids teachers are not going to contact you unless there is a major behavioral issue. They do not contact you if your kid is missing assignments, failing tests or falling behind. You kid has to initiate getting extra help, test re-takes on their own. This was a huge adjustment for my A/B advanced math kid.

Why can't we be given access to the online grading system in real time, like parent view. Do they do mid-term progress reports at least?

You do. Im saying teaching isn’t going to email you that Layla failed her test. You have to go in and check yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The DHMS building and campus are phenomenal. Probably the best, facility-wise in APS (if not the entire DC area) for a middle school. Kids aren't old enough yet, but I've heard the teachers and admin there are very good.

Really? When HB was there the field was too narrow for soccer, which is why ultimate frisbee became the big HB sport. Did they reconfigure it to get a standard size field?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The DHMS building and campus are phenomenal. Probably the best, facility-wise in APS (if not the entire DC area) for a middle school. Kids aren't old enough yet, but I've heard the teachers and admin there are very good.

Really? When HB was there the field was too narrow for soccer, which is why ultimate frisbee became the big HB sport. Did they reconfigure it to get a standard size field?

Our middle school team played there no problem- full size field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The DHMS building and campus are phenomenal. Probably the best, facility-wise in APS (if not the entire DC area) for a middle school. Kids aren't old enough yet, but I've heard the teachers and admin there are very good.

Really? When HB was there the field was too narrow for soccer, which is why ultimate frisbee became the big HB sport. Did they reconfigure it to get a standard size field?

Before HB, it was originally a junior high school size football field when it was Stratford Jr High (grades 7-9). During the renovation, it was reconfigured for soccer, and other athletic and outdoors use for DHMS. And Stratford Park, adjacent to the new wing, has tennis, a "street-style" skatepark, and a baseball/softball field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The DHMS building and campus are phenomenal. Probably the best, facility-wise in APS (if not the entire DC area) for a middle school. Kids aren't old enough yet, but I've heard the teachers and admin there are very good.

Really? When HB was there the field was too narrow for soccer, which is why ultimate frisbee became the big HB sport. Did they reconfigure it to get a standard size field?

Before HB, it was originally a junior high school size football field when it was Stratford Jr High (grades 7-9). During the renovation, it was reconfigured for soccer, and other athletic and outdoors use for DHMS. And Stratford Park, adjacent to the new wing, has tennis, a "street-style" skatepark, and a baseball/softball field.

It's a small, narrow field but its just middle school soccer; more for fun; play against teammates; short season!

[Anonymous]

I have an 8th grader who was there in 6th, virtual in 7th and a Sophomore who was there in 8th (until virtual March 2020).

It was MUCH better than Swanson where my oldest was for 6th & 7th. Night and day.

We have had zero issues and haven't heard anything like what you describe.

[Anonymous]

Dorothy Hamm has been smaller, and it’s led by a pretty nurturing team. My kid is finishing up 8th grade, so he’s been associated with it for his entire middle school years, and it’s fine. There was some stupid stuff with soap dispensers in the restrooms, and at the end of the day they’re tweens and early teens, so expect inconsistent and bad social-emotional functioning. I don’t think you’ll find anything better in Howard County.