Bookcliff honored for their second national redesignation

Gathered together with over 550 conference attendees, Bookcliff Middle, Corwin International Magnet, and Redlands Middle Schools were honored and recognized by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform as a National School to Watch!

Bookcliff Middle, located in Grand Junction, received this honor for a second time, an acknowledgment of their six continuous years of sustained success trajectory.

Corwin International, located in Pueblo and Redlands located in Grand Junction, received their recognition for the first time, signaling their initial acknowledgement for their excellence in the middle grades.  The Colorado Association of Middle Level Education (CAMLE) is proud to honor these three schools for their dedication to academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and strong organizational structures.

Redlands Middle recognized at the Gala Dinner

The 3 day celebration of excellence in the middle grades began with an advocacy training for all the 550 attendees to equip them to travel to Capitol Hill to meet with their Congressional Representatives.   The training prepared each of the 115 new Schools to Watch to share their story of success and the replicable practices that can be shared across the state.

The following day, the Schools to Watch presented their best practices, highlighting proven programs that positively impact student achievement and well being.  These high energy presentations showcased a variety of strategies focusing on instructional strategies, systemic practices, student engagement and empowerment, and capacity building structures for staff.

Bookcliff shares successful strategies for community building through the Circle of Power and Respect

Bookcliff Middle School engaged their audience in an authentic Morning Meeting where participants “circled-up,” greeted one another, engaged in sharing, and a team-building activity.

Redlands Middle School also presented at the Schools to Watch Conference.  Their focus centered on providing excellent support for diverse learners.  Staff shared their differentiated practices in the use of learning contracts, formative assessment, and project-based learning.

This year, we were proud to be able to send several CAMLE Board members to attend the National Schools to Watch Conference in order to support and honor our Colorado Schools to Watch.  In attendance were CAMLE President Joe Cushing, Secretary Kim McLachlan-Pearson, Metro Region Representative, Martin Pearson, North-Central Region Representative Sheila Pottorff, and Schools to Watch State Director, Diane Lauer.

Corwin International with the CAMLE Board Members celebrating excellence in the middle grades!