Wallingford fifth graders and their parents are invited to attend an open house for Hamilton International Middle School (1610 N. 41st. St.
Directions & Map) this Thursday (2/28), from 6:30pm – 8:30pm.
Students will learn a little about what it’s like to be a Hamilton Hawk, and this is a fine time to ask questions about transitioning from elementary to middle school. You’ll also get to learn more about Hamilton’s APP, World Language, Music, and Athletic programs.
If you plan to attend, come early, as this is the only open house the school will host this year, and there aren’t any daytime tours offered.
I attended the open house last night. It was great to get in the building and see the facilities (which are impressive.)
However, that is about the only thing that was useful. There was no presentation by the administration, parents were provided a map and were left to wander the school. A few teachers were available, but you had to ferret them out on your own. There was no structure provided for Question and Answer.
Throughout the Open House I felt lost, unsupported and basically an anonymous face in a huge crowd. Exactly what I am afraid will await my child in a large public middle school that is bursting at the seams.
While I hope (and expect) the services provided by Hamilton are comprehensive, nurturing and excellent – I left last night’s open house with little more information about those services than I did when I entered the building.
I don’t intend to be another malcontent on the Wallyhood stringed discussions – however I was truly underwhelmed by the Open House.
JSIS parent, I was also there and I share your disappointment. I was expecting the same kind of presentation the school gave two years ago, when Principal Chris Carter was there. I was really impressed then because families sat on bleachers in the Commons and the principal, faculty, and other staff got up and each gave a five minute “presentation” about music, athletics, APP, Spectrum, Immersion, even HOST (Hawk Out Of School Time). Then, Principal Carter opened it up for questions and he encouraged the incoming crop of kids to ask anything…and they did! That’s how I learned that sixth graders always start one day before the 7th and 8th graders, so that get the lay of the land without feeling so…new.
But when we got there last night, and were told that there would be no presentation, I was surprised. I mean, we were greeted immediately by a parent in the lobby, and every time we went into a classroom, we were greeted by teachers and students (the 8th grade Japanese students were AWESOME!) But I can’t tell you how many times we walked into the “wrong” place (i.e. a 7th grade class…or an APP class, etc).
I wonder if the decision to forego a presentation was made because they expected it to be so packed, that not everyone could fit in the Commons at the same time? Just a hunch.
At the end of the day, though, my kid is so excited to be going there, and I didn’t share my disappointment. He’s stoked, so that in itself was a plus!