New MPS middle school hopes to prepare students to make difference
Rufus King International Middle School modeled after Rufus King High School
Updated: 11:22 AM CST Jan 4, 2017
Thema Ponton
WEBVTT THEY EDUCATE THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY THEMA: EIGHTH GRADER ROMALE REED IS LEARNING HOW TO BE A LEADER. AND SHE SAYS THAT'S A LOT EASIER TO DO AT THE NEWLY RENOVATED HOME OF RUFUS KING INTERNATIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL. >> LAST YEAR, WE WERE, LIKE, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MATURING, AND THIS IS GREAT. THEMA: PRINCIPAL TAMERA ELLIS SAYS ALONG WITH THE RIGOROUS CURRICULUM, STUDENTS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED FOR A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO HIGH SCHOOL. SOME OF THE RENOVATIONS INCLUDE A FULL AUDITORIUM, MULTIPLE GYMS AND NEW LABS >> WE HAVE THE EQUIPMENT NOW. WE HAVE THE ROOM. WE HAVE THE TEACHERS THAT JUST REALLY BELIEVE IN GO LEARNING, AND I BELIEVE IT CAN CHANGE STUDENTS' LIVES. THEMA: TEACHER MICHELLE YOUNG SAYS STUDENTS ARE LEARNING REAL WORLD SKILLS >> THEY ARE LEARNING TO PROBLEM SOLVE. THEY ARE LEARNING. THIS WILL BE BENEFICIAL WHEN THEY GET TO HIGH SCHOOL. THEMA: SKILLS ROMALE HOPES WILL ALSO HELP HER PURSUE HER DREAM OF PLAYING IN THE WNBA. >> MY COACHES, THEY DO NOT EVEN CARE IF WE WIN. IT IS ALL ABOUT CHARACTER. IT IS NOT EVEN ABOUT HOW WE PLAY. IT IS HOW WE PRESENT OURSELVES. THEMA: THE PEOPLE WE SPOKE WITH SAYS THE IDEA BEHIND THIS MIDDLE SCHOOL IS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES, NOT JUST IN EDUCATION, BUT SO WHEN THEY LEAVE THESE HALLWAYS, THEY ARE READY TO GO OUT AND MAKE IT DIFFERENT IN THE WORLD.
The ribbon was officially cut Wednesday at Rufus King International Middle School in Milwaukee's Harambee neighborhood. It's modeled after Rufus King High School, a nationally recognized college preparatory program. Eighth-grader Romale Reed is learning how to be a leader. She said it's a lot easier to do at the newly renovated home of Rufus King International Middle School at North 1st and West Hadley streets. "Last year we were in like an elementary school, so now it's like we're like maturing, and it's just great," Romale said. Principal Tamera Ellis said that along with the rigorous curriculum, students have the resources they need for a successful transition to high school. Some of the renovations included a full auditorium, multiple gyms and new labs. "We have the equipment now. We have the room. We have the teachers who just really believe in student learning and who really believe that they can make a difference in these students' lives," Ellis said. Teacher Michelle Young said students are learning real-world skills. "They're learning to work together. They're learning to problem solve. They're learning to communicate, so they're using a lot of process skills," Young said. Romale hopes those skills were help her pursue her dream of playing in the WNBA. "My coaches, like, they don't even care if we win. It's all about our character, like, if we don't have integrity, we, they will bench us, like it's not even about how we play, it's about how we like present ourself for Rufus King," Reed said. The people WISN 12 News spoke with said that the idea behind this middle school is to make a difference in the kids' lives and not just with their education. MPS wants the students to be prepared so that when they leave the school, they are ready to go out and make a difference in the world. Students who go the middle school are not guaranteed a spot at Rufus King High School.
MILWAUKEE —
The ribbon was officially cut Wednesday at Rufus King International Middle School in Milwaukee's Harambee neighborhood.
It's modeled after Rufus King High School, a nationally recognized college preparatory program.
Eighth-grader Romale Reed is learning how to be a leader.
She said it's a lot easier to do at the newly renovated home of Rufus King International Middle School at North 1st and West Hadley streets.
"Last year we were in like an elementary school, so now it's like we're like maturing, and it's just great," Romale said.
Principal Tamera Ellis said that along with the rigorous curriculum, students have the resources they need for a successful transition to high school.
Some of the renovations included a full auditorium, multiple gyms and new labs.
"We have the equipment now. We have the room. We have the teachers who just really believe in student learning and who really believe that they can make a difference in these students' lives," Ellis said.
Teacher Michelle Young said students are learning real-world skills.
"They're learning to work together. They're learning to problem solve. They're learning to communicate, so they're using a lot of process skills," Young said.
Romale hopes those skills were help her pursue her dream of playing in the WNBA.
"My coaches, like, they don't even care if we win. It's all about our character, like, if we don't have integrity, we, they will bench us, like it's not even about how we play, it's about how we like present ourself for Rufus King," Reed said.
The people WISN 12 News spoke with said that the idea behind this middle school is to make a difference in the kids' lives and not just with their education. MPS wants the students to be prepared so that when they leave the school, they are ready to go out and make a difference in the world.
Students who go the middle school are not guaranteed a spot at Rufus King High School.