Marshall Middle School (Pittsburgh)

Marshall Middle School
Location
5145 Wexford Run Road Wexford, PA 15090 United States
Information
Type	Public
Motto	Where I Make a Difference
Established	1993
School district	North Allegheny School District
Principal	Cynthia Kainaroi
Grades	6–8
Enrollment	643 (2010-2011)- Sixth- 200, Seventh- 220, Eighth- 223
Color(s)	Black and Gold
Mascot	Tiger
Affiliation	North Allegheny
Website

Marshall Middle School (MMS) is one of three middle schools (6-8th grades) serving the North Allegheny School District. Located in Marshall Township, Pennsylvania. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 647 pupils in grades 6th through 8th, with 12 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 52 teachers yielding a student teacher ratio of 12:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.

The school is known for its high scholastic standards. In 1999-2000 it was named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence . This award was accepted by then student body president, Andrew Michael Jones. He traveled to Washington, D.C. along with the Vice Principal and Principal to accept the award from the former President Clinton and the Secretary of Education. Marhall Middle also houses part of North Allegheny School District's bus fleet. Marshall Middle School was founded in 1993 and cost approximately 30 million USD to build.

Principals

Mr. John Schwoebel was the school's original principal, serving until the 2005-2006 school year, when he retired his long standing post to Dr. Kathleen Roppa. Dr. Roppa left after the 2005-2006 school year to take the position of Assistant Superintendent of the Neshannock Township School District. The new Principal is Dr. Cynthia (Cindy) Kainaroi for the school years of 2006–2009 and (2011–present). There is also an assistant-principal, Mrs. Tracie Michalowski, who has been with the school from 2006–present. In the 2010-2011 school year Dr. Cynthia Kainaroi took a 12 month Sabbatical and Tracie Michalowski was the Principal.

Campus

The school is in a two story 'H' shape with two large extended wings for the auditorium and gymnasium on both sides. The eighth grade classrooms are in the central bar of the H, the sixth grade classrooms are on the east wing, and the seventh grade classrooms are on the west wing. There is a football/multipurpose field off of the gymnasium to the east, and a softball field adjacent to it, which reaches 207 feet from home plate to the wall. Past right field lies complex cross-country trails that are used for North Allegheny Cross Country meets and gym classes. Farther east of the cross-country trails are two soccer fields used by local soccer leagues. The Marshall campus also includes a pond used for science purposes and projects. Marshall planned to have a pool in the design of the campus, but that plan was turned down due to swimming classes not existing in middle school physical education curriculum.

Academic Achievement

In 2012, the eighth grade was ranked 3rd in the Western Pennsylvania region out of 141 western Pennsylvania middle schools based on the last three years of student academic achievement in PSSAs in: reading, math writing and science. (Includes schools in: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Westmoreland County, and Washington County

• 2011 - 2nd
• 2010 - 2nd
• 2009 - 2nd

In 2010 and 2011, Marshall Middle School achieved AYP status.

PSSA Results

8th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 98% on grade level (91% advanced). In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders on grade level.
• 2010 – 96% (85% advanced) (2% below basic). State - 81%
• 2009 – 98%, 86% advanced (1% below basic), State – 80%

8th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 94% on grade level, 74% advanced (3% below basic). State - 76.9%
• 2010 – 96%, 78% advanced (1% below basic). State - 75%
• 2009 – 94%, 77% advanced (1% below basic), State – 71%

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 90% on grade level 50% advanced (4% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 – 85%, 49% advanced (4% below basic). State – 57%
• 2009 – 92%, 54% advanced (3% below basic), State – 55%

7th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 99% on grade level, 78% advanced. State – 76%
• 2010 – 96%, 75% advanced. State - 73%
• 2009 – 93%, 69% advanced (3% below basic). State – 71%

7th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 98%, 84% advanced. State - 78.6%
• 2010 – 94%, 78% advanced (1% below basic). State - 77%
• 2009 – 91%, 66% advanced (2% below basic). State – 75%

6th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 91%, 69% advanced (2% below basic). State - 69.9%
• 2010 – 95%, 71% advanced (1% below basic). State - 68%
• 2009 – 91%, 59% advanced (2% below basic). State – 67%

6th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 95%, 78% advanced (3% below basic). State - 78.8%
• 2010 – 95%, 81% advanced (2% below basic). State - 78%
• 2009 – 92%, 73% advanced (0% below basic). State – 75%

Events

Yearly Field Trips

Every year, grades have at least one field trip. Sixth graders normally visit Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh, PA for a Pittsburgh Orchestra concert. Seventh graders take a trip to see "A Christmas Carol" every year during the holiday season since it ties in with the English curriculum. With major bugget cuts the Seventh graders to not go to Kennywood Amusement Park anymore (last trip was the spring of 2012 (class of 2017)) at the end of the year. Eighth graders take a cruise on the Gateway Clipper in the spring. Also for all grades there is Mini Course Day. Where leaving the campus is optional based on what the student picks.

Talent Show

During the spring, Marshall Middle conducts a talent show open to all students. Participants put on their acts for peers, teachers, and parents. Mr. Jeffrey Scheller, seventh grade science teacher, and Mr. James Furlong, chorus instructor, coordinate the event. Christina Aguilera performed in the talent show as an 8th grade student.

Concerts

Every winter and spring, each of the musical classes offered at the middle school hold a concert. These include band, chorus, and orchestra; they are headed by Mr. Wesley Taylor, Mr. James Furlong, and Mrs. Dana Leasure respectively. Typically, one concert will be performed during school hours for fellow students and staff, and one will be performed in the evening after school for parents and guests.

Civil War Day

Because it ties into their social studies curriculum, eighth graders participate in a day in which it is popular to dress up in fashions from the 1860s and as civil war veterans. Often, an Abraham Lincoln impersonator gives a speech, and the students have an outdoor parade around the front of the school. They then return to their classrooms for refreshments.

GOAL in MMS

GOAL is an acronym for Gifted Opportunities for Advanced Learners. This is a program in North Allegheny School District where advanced students who have done well on ITBS tests and/or CogAT tests or have an IQ of over 130, have a chance to take a specialized test to get into the program which enhances their learning experience. In Marshall Middle, the GOAL program is very prominent, and exerts great influence over the school's operations. GOAL has its own office in the sixth grade hall where GOAL students meet at times, from which an immense underground complex can be accessed. The office is nominally ruled by a student matriarchy consisting of a king, queen, treasurer, paperwork secretary, and errands secretary.

However, since 2010, this bourgeois matriarchy has had very little power; in reality certain other people, of whom GOAL office dictator Dan Williams is a leading figure, have near-absolute control over Marshall and its provinces Carson Middle School and Ingomar Middle School. The Patriots are under the direction of a mysterious figure named "R" who almost nothing is known about.

Events and Trips

• 6th grade: No major trip; many smaller field trips throughout the year.
• 7th grade: A Christmas Carol
• 8th grade: Washington, DC and Williamsburg, VA in the spring; many smaller trips.

Competitions

• Calcu-Solve Mathematics Competition:

• Sixth Grade

• First Place Team 2007, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2001
• Second Place Team 2008
• Individual Champion 2007, 2006

• Seventh/Eighth Grade

• First Place Team 2010
• Second Place Team 2011
• Individual Champion 2010

• National Academic League:

• Regional Champion 2011, 2010
• National Final Four 2011, Elite Eight 2010.

• National Middle School Science Bowl:

• Regional 3rd Place 2009
• Regional Champions 2011, 2010
• National 4th place 2010, 5th place 2011
• National Civility Award 2010

TSA in MMS

The Technology Student Association at MMS is one of the finest in the district, as the Technology Department offers many different opportunities to the students. They have won many awards at regionals, states, and nationals. The teacher coordinator of this group is Mr. Nick Vorassi.

Notable Awards

2010

• Regional: 1st Place, Tech Bowl
• State

• 1st Place, Robot TOBOR
• 2nd Place, Manufacturing

• National: 9th Place, Robot TOBOR

2011

• Regional

• 2nd Place, PA CAD
• 3rd Place, PA CAD
• 1st place Robot TOBOR
• 3rd place Engineering Design

• State

• 1st Place, Technical Drawing
• 1st Place, Tech Bowl
• 2nd Place, Technical Writing
• 2nd Place, Transportation Challenge

Student activities

Academics

• After School Achievement Program (ASAP)
• American Mathematics Contest 8 (AMC 8)
• Calcu-Solve Mathematics Competition
• Civil War Week
• Junior Classical League (JCL)
• Knowledge Master Open
• National Academic League (NAL)
• National French Exam
• National Geographic Bee
• National Latin Exam
• National Middle School Science Bowl
• Pennsylvania Mathematics League (PAML)
• Scripps National Spelling Bee

Art

• Central Board Room Display

Service Act/Fund Raisers

• Box Tops
• Candy Cane Grams
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
• Canned Food Drive
• Magazine Sale
• Pasta for Pennies
• Scholastic Book Club

Clubs

• Book Club
• Student Newspaper @ Marshall Middle (SP@MM)
• Technology Student Association (TSA)

Club Sports

• Ice Hockey
• Inline Hockey
• Lacrosse (Boys)
• Football
• Girls Basketball
• Boys Basketball
• Cheerleading
• Girls Volleyball
• Boys Volleyball

Interscholastic Sports

• Baseball
• Basketball (Boys)
• Basketball (Girls)
• Cheerleading
• Cross Country - Prestigious team, an invincible force with many accolades. Only 6 losses in 50 years.
• Football
• Soccer (Boys)
• Soccer (Girls)
• Softball
• Track and Field
• Volleyball (Girls)
• Volleyball (Boys)
• Wrestling
• Field Hockey
• Lacrosse (Girls)

Intramural Sports

• Intramural Volleyball
• Intramural Basketball- 7/8 Grades
• Intramural Flag Football—6th Grade
• Intramural Street Hockey
• Intramural Tennis
• Intramural Weight Training

Music

• Band
• Choral Ensemble
• Chorus
• Jazz Ensemble
• Orchestra
• Chamber Orchestra
• General Music

Service Jobs

• Counselor Aides
• P.A. Announcers
• Peer Mediation
• Stage Crew

Pittsburgh Business Times Recognition

Marshall Middle School was honored in 2010 by the PBT's Guide to Western Pennsylcania Schools on their Honor Roll List, which analyses the academic performance of schools on the PSSA exam over three years. MMS was ranked number 2 out of 155 middle schools in Western PA. The entire North Allegheny School District was ranked number 2 out of 105 school districts.

Notable alumni

Popular music artist Christina Aguilera is a graduate of Marshall Middle School. Perhaps the most famous graduate of Marshall is Medha Sharma, world renowned wrestler. Another, less famous, graduates of Marshall Middle School are Popeye, Jar Jar Binks, and Angelina Ballerina.