Garden City Middle School Principal Peter Osroff will discuss middle level philosophy at the board of education work session Monday, Dec. 13, at 8:15 p.m. in the administration building on Cathedral Avenue. Osroff spoke about "Transformation into a True Middle School-Restructuring Based on Middle Level Philosophy" at the NYS Middle States Association Annual Conference Oct. 22.

The program explored how the new NYS Board of Regents policy statement on middle level education can be used as a transformative empowering paradigm. Using the reconstructing of Garden City Middle School as a practical example, Osroff highlighted the transformative restructuring that enabled the middle school to be selected as a member of the Statewide Network of Middle Level Education Support Schools.

Osroff also presented at the National Middle School Conference held in Minneapolis in November. His topic, "Transformation into a Real Middle School," gave an overview of the steps needed to transform a traditional junior high into a model middle school.

The Garden City Middle School increasingly serves as a model for schools that want to implement middle level philosophy. As Dr. Susan Nicklas, executive director of the Secondary Council of Middle States Association, wrote in her tentative approval of the middle school candidacy status, "...the Candidacy Visitor observed a sense of enthusiasm and excitement of what has been accomplished and what can be accomplished in the near future. It was remarkable to see the magnitude and impact of changes that have occurred in the last two years. There are many, many more programmatic and student activities choices for students."

Osroff said, "As we reflect on the past two years, we can begin to assess our level of tentative success. We were very pleased that the NYS Department of Education selected our school as a Middle Level Support School for Two Essential Elements. We were selected as a model school for Essential Element One and for Essential Element Two."

The State Education Department writes in their letter awarding this distinction, that the "Garden City Middle School warrants inclusion in this network because of their commitment to the younger adolescent. They have developed a framework for restructuring that supports their mission. This framework is the enhancement of partnerships and communication between school and home, emphasizing academic excellence with building of character, social and personal responsibility. In addition, it displays their vision of success for all students to reach their highest potential."

At the Dec. 13 work session, Osroff will provide an overview of the restructuring process at Garden City Middle School.