MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS – Academics comes first and community service is a close second. That defines Middleburg Heights Junior High and the reason it has been named the Fox 8 Cool School this week.
This is the second year for Middleburg Heights Junior High since the consolidation of the Berea School District. With 1400 students in the seventh, eighth and ninth grade, this is a rather large school with one main goal. Academics take top priority; more than one third of the students are on the merit roll.
The Flat Connections Global Project is a unique part of the curriculum. It combines ninth grade English with computer class. And, it is a real example of distance learning. “It’s an authentic learning environment where students are able to communicate, collaborate and create with students from around the world. In addition to being aware and learn about other cultures, they learn about other technologies,” English Teacher Amy Jambor said.
At Middleburg Heights Junior High School, is not just about classroom learning, but learning to be good citizens, as well. Here, there’s a big emphasis on serving the community. “For community service we sold these spirit gloves that our lovely advisors made. We sold them to the students here and the money went to blanket making for homeless,” Student Council member Serena Ramsammy said.
Students also partner with the Kiwanis for what they call service learning projects. “Builders’ Club is a community service club for our school. We go down to the nursing home and help out there. We do the food drives with other districts like Brook Park, Middleburg and Berea,” eighth grader Alexis Fahl said.
And, students who participate in “Dash for Dignity” run and raise money for a cause. “Dash for Dignity is a 5K run that we have been doing for the fourth year. It’s for canned goods this year,” eighth grader Alyse Hancock-Phillips said.
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Eighth grader Ryan Short gave more reasons why Middleburg Heights Junior High deserves to be named a Fox 8 Cool School. “We have a lot of good teams, basketball, baseball, softball, and swimming. They went to a lot of championships. And, if you’re not in to sports, we also have music and art that are really good here.”
And a group of girls summed it up this way: “Everybody fits in. Everybody gets along. And, that’s why Middleburg Heights Junior High is a Cool School.”