Arvida Middle School
{{Infobox Secondary school | name = Arvida Middle School | logo = | type = Public | principal = Nancy Aragon | city = [[Miami, | state = Florida | country = USA | grades = 6-8 | students = 1,850 | established = 1975 | district = Miami-Dade County Public Schools | free_label_1 = School hours | free_1 = 9:10–3:50 | current theme = Defying Gravity | mascot = Vikings | colors = Maroon and Gold | website = Official site }} Arvida Middle School is a Blue Ribbon middle school in Miami, Florida, USA, founded in 1975, that educates around 1,850 students in grades 6-8.[1] The Principal since August 2006, who was promoted from Assistant Principal, is Nancy Aragon.[2]
Academics
Arvida was recognized as a Blue Ribbon school in 1997-98,[3][4][5] the highest award that can be given to a US school.[6][7]
The school has been described as "exemplifying a progressive commitment to recapturing traditional excellence and incorporating innovative approaches into the educational process".[1]
The Global Academy, established in 2000-01, is an innovative academic program for gifted 6th graders. The program combines mandatory courses in Mathematics, Language Arts, Science, and Geography. Course work is cross-cutting in order to link and relate the subjects.[8] The Global Academy continues into seventh grade Odyssey program, which now extends into eighth grade. Arvida has now created a new program, the Forensics/Performing Arts program which requires an art as an elective, and has a Science based program. This was started in 2008, and extends to seventh and eighth grade, as well.
Faculty awards
Student awards
- Ellen Holly Aldrich and Rachelle Hutchings, US National Award winners for class achievements in English, 1993[10]
- Carlos Grenier, National Geographic Bee, Florida champion 1997[11]
Notable alumni
- Cote de Pablo, actress on the popular Television series NCIS
- Stephen Tulloch, linebacker for the NFL team Tennessee Titans
References
- ^ a b "Arvida Middle School", First Amendment Schools
- ^ "School's New Principal Knows the Ropes: An Assistant Principal at Arvida Middle School Moves Up to Call the Shots As Principal", The Miami Herald,like 20 August 2006'
- ^ "TEACHING `WHOLE CHILD' A BLUE-RIBBON IDEA", The Miami Herald, May 21, 1998. "But what Arvida Middle does offer -- a strong dose of history, math, science and English, along with Hebrew, Latin, orchestra and dance, among other uncommon electives -- was enough to win it national recognition Wednesday, when the U.S. Department of Education tapped it as a Blue Ribbon School..."
- ^ Cotayo, Charles. "Arvida Receives Coveted Award", The Miami Herald, June 28, 1998. Accessed August 8, 2007. "Arvida Middle School in the Crossings recently was named one of only five Florida schools and 166 schools nationally to receive the prestigious Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Education this year."
- ^ "Blue Ribbon Schools Project", U.S. Department of Education
- ^ CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department, Journal Inquirer, November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."
- ^ Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test; The Washington Post. September 29, 2005 "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."
- ^ "The Global Academy", Arvida Middle School, 2007
- ^ "THREE TEACHERS WIN TOP STATE, COUNTY AWARDS", The Miami Herald, 1 May 1994
- ^ "DADE STUDENTS NAMED U.S. NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS", The Miami Herald, 13 June 1993
- ^ "National Geographic Bee, National Geographic Society