Teaming at NMS

Grade Level Teaming

At Norton Middle School, we are committed to the principle that "It’s all about the learning!" Our central focus is to ensure the success of every student by engaging with and implementing best practices from educational research, particularly those outlined in Turning Points. The academic structure at Norton Middle School revolves around a team-based philosophy, with each grade level divided into two balanced teams. These teams consist of students with a range of ability levels, and team placements are based primarily on academic and instructional considerations. While there is no formal process for requesting specific teams, our teachers and administrators collaborate closely to provide students with opportunities to meet 21st-century learning expectations in a safe and nurturing environment.

In a public school setting, it is unrealistic to expect complete separation of students. Due to the limitations of programming and scheduling, there are occasions when students may need to cross teams. Coordinating the schedules for nearly 600 students involves careful consideration, especially given the legal parameters surrounding special education, which impact class assignments, teams, and staffing. We make it a priority to address any documented, substantiated bullying or conflict issues and work diligently to minimize interactions between affected students whenever possible.

We recognize that students' friendships evolve over time, however it is impossible for us to keep track of the full range of interpersonal dynamics among nearly 600 students. As such, we are unable to accommodate requests to place students with specific friends. Once we begin making exceptions, it leads to more requests and, ultimately, the perception of "winning" and "losing" teams where some students end up on the team they wanted, while others do not. We are committed to breaking down cliques and cannot actively participate in their creation.

In today’s connected world, students have ample opportunities to maintain and expand their friendships through before and after school activities, sports, clubs, texting, FaceTime, and good old fashioned phone calls. I am confident that our students will continue to develop strong social connections and make new friends across different teams and settings.