Silver Spring International Middle School thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Any thoughts on SS International MS? Also, why is it called "international?" Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Can you tell us more about what you want to know? DC goes there...It's called International because it houses Spanish and French immersion programs, and because the entire school uses the International Baccalaureate curriculum, MYP (middle years programme).

[Anonymous]

New poster here who would also like to know about the school. I've read the Web site, which I think is comprehensive and very helpful, but am wondering about the atmosphere, such as discipline and bullying, disruptive students in classrooms, etc. Do you feel your child is on track and being challenged academically? Is the school administration responsive when you have questions? What do you feel are the strengths of the school?

I know I have a lot of questions, so whatever you can help with, I'd appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

18:10 here. In response to the posted questions, I do feel like DC is challenged at SSIMS. We came in new to MCPS this year (moved from out of state) and the administrators worked with us quickly and efficiently to alter DC's initial schedule to accommodate our desire that DC take a language (not immersion) and be placed in certain GT classes. They also fine tuned DC's math placement by quickly administering additional tests. The result is that DC takes GT English (with demonstrably more challenging assignments and projects than the regular class), a first-year language for which DC will receive high school credit when the time comes, math a grade ahead, and a fine arts electives. The school is a pilot school for MCPS's advanced science curriculum (where everyone receives advanced instruction). But probably what I like most about the school is the way the IB curriculum is implemented across disciplines. The IB approach is really evident in the social studies and English classes (or that's where I notice it most anyway), where inquiry based learning results in projects that require the students to consider problems across disciplines and genres. There are a lot of role playing games and projects that are hands-on. For example, DC did a unit on Ancient Greece where the students were assigned socioeconomic roles and then they had to trade and barter with each other in the era's currency. I can't describe it well, but they were using history, economics, and geography all at once. In a Shakespeare unit, DC was put on a team that had to produce a scene -- they had to learn the scene, write and publish a playbill, and act it out in class. In answer to one poster's question, I think the IB curriculum is a strength of the school. Last week SSIMS participated in the MCPS-wide Outdoor Education unit, which takes all 6th graders for a 2-night trip to one of three retreat centers (SSIMS went to Skycroft, out near Frederick.) While there, they did problem-solving activities related to environmental education. (They also had a blast, of course.)

Atmosphere: the school is a friendly, lively place. Another thing we find a strength of the school is that there is no racial majority. On bullying and discipline: I'm not really aware of any bullying, although I can ask DC. I know that they offered a workshop recently on cyberbullying. On disruptive students: well, DC is in 6th grade and says in mixed-grade classes like language, it's always the 8th graders that act up. (Maybe a little senioritis?) But I haven't heard of anything alarming. Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

I'm 22:16. Thanks for all the info. Very helpful.

[Anonymous]

I'm interested in SSIMS as well as an out-of-state transfer for my daughter. Any other thoughts? She's in Spanish immersion now in another state.

[Anonymous]

Fomer SSI parent here: this is a high-functioning school that keeps every kid on the radar with great staff who are dedicated to this challenging age group. There is a new principal since youngest graduated so others will have to comment; prior administration was exceptional in their focus on achievement and calming what had been a fairly wild place 6+ years ago. In the end I enjoyed reliving middle school through my kids' experiences, which was about the last thing I expected. Kids were extremely well-prepared for high school honors/AP/etc.

[Anonymous]

Immersion students get to participate in exchanges with an IB school in Mexico and a school in France. Some non-immersion students who are studying the language have also participated.