Mansfield ISD Magazine Winter 2017 | Page 32

All-Male Middle School Classes Seeing Early Success Positive Messages Pop Up in Girls Bathrooms W ith all the messages young girls are being exposed to about what it looks like to be beautiful, a Mansfield ISD principal took the initiative to ensure that girls on his campus know the true meaning of beauty. Matthew Brown, principal of Donna Shepard Intermediate School, heard of a school that decorated positive messages inside of the girls bathrooms, and he decided that it would be a great thing to incorporate at his new campus as well. Seven male teachers are part of the school’s Men of Tomorrow program. B oys and girls learn differently, so staff members at T.A. Howard Middle School decided to try something new in hopes narrowing the performance gap between its male and female students. New this school year, T.A. Howard Middle School launched a program called Men of Tomorrow (MOT). It’s an opportunity for male students to receive all of their core content instruction in an all-male setting. The program originated at Legacy High School in 2011 as an all-male English class. The chapter expanded to Howard Middle School and was customized to fit the school’s desired goal. Music Place Mansfield [phone] MusicPlaceMansfield.com Music & Acting Lessons Band Rentals & Supplies Aqua-Tots Swim School Mansfield [phone] Aqua- tots.com/locations/usa/texas/ mansfield Year Swim Lessons * Indoor Heated Pool * All Ages and Abilities Brown has two daughters of his own and said this project hit close to home for him. Symphony Arlington [phone] symphonyarlington.org “My whole goal in this was to look at what really makes our students beautiful,” Brown explained. “That’s in our values at MISD. We talk about being resilient and putting others first. That’s what I wanted our girls to see.” Symphony Arlington provides $5 tickets to students and $10 tickets to parents who accompany students to our concerts. Urban Air Trampoline Park [phone] [email protected] Voted #1 for Kids, the perfect place for safe, affordable family fun with award winning trampoline attractions for all! The key for engagement, he said, is the use of visual aids, movement within the classroom setting and a need for competition. Medical Care Although their core classes are all-male classes taught by male teachers, the students still have the opportunity to partake in other extracurricular activities. 30 Mansfield School & Family School of Rock Mansfield [phone] mansfield.schoolofrock.com School of Rock Mansfield Performance Groups ▪ Lessons ▪∙Camps [email protected] He posted the idea on the school’s Facebook page and was pleasantly surprised about how many parents wanted to help. Parents pitched in to buy supplies, print the material, cut the vinyl and mount the artwork. The decorations will be on display in the girls bathrooms and locker room on stall doors and mirrors. “We did this to meet the specific learning needs,” said assistant principal Brad Schilder. “We identified three research-based best practices that coincide with their desires and how they wanted to learn.” The program is in its first year, but results are already being made. Schilder said there has been a reduction in disciplinary issues and an increase in academic achievement. Creative Activities Several moms gathered on campus to complete the project. CityDoc Urgent Care [phone] citydoc.net Convenient care for the whole family. Open every day. Walk-ins welcome. Online check-in. Affordable self-pay pricing. Sports Mansfield Pee Wee Football Association [phone] mansfieldpwfa.com Please visit our website @ www.mansfieldpwfa.com for more information. You can also email us at [email protected] Play-Well TEKnologies [phone] play-well.org Build problem-solving skills, creative expression, creativity and ability to collaborate. Kids are natural engineers! Before & After School Care The Children’s Courtyard 3701 E. Broad St. Mansfield, TX 76063 [phone] childrenscourtyard.com/your-local- school/mansfield-tx-3020/ We offer more school-age students an involving experience in the morning and afternoons. Bizzy Kids Learning Center [phone] bizzykidslearningcenter.net Enrolling infants – 12 yrs old, before & after school program, full time/part time/drop in day rates. Knowledge Guides [phone] Knowledgeguides.net SAT and ACT Prep! Learn how to score your best! Proven Results! EScholar [phone] escholar.com We help parents, educators and students make informed decisions. Faith Based Organizations Spanish Schoolhouse [phone] spanishschoolhouse.com At Spanish Schoolhouse, your child will be surrounded by the Spanish Language and our warm Latin Culture daily, while developing early childhood academic skills and the love of learning. Educational Services Atomic Learning [phone] x 153 atomiclearning.com/k12 An online system to assist students’ college and career readiness, safety awareness and learning how–to technology. First Baptist Church Youth fbca.org We are Christ followers, glorifying God by following the Jesus Way. Bible Study Sun. 9:00 am Youth Gathering Wed 7:00pm Mayfield Road Baptist Church A Church for Families 1701 E Mayfield Road Arlington, TX 76014 [phone] mayfieldroad.org1701 What is a Baptist church? Many have understood a Baptist church by its common stereotypes, but we can assure you that the Mayfield Road family is not your stereotypical Baptist church. We are unique. Mansfield School & Family 31