The Greene County Middle School is ready for the upcoming school year.

Principal Shawn Zanders says teachers are implementing a new district-wide program of design challenges. We’ve previously reported a design challenge puts students in certain situations, with limited instruction and resources, with the goal to develop a solution. Zanders points out another  program gives students the chance to be involved in the growing world of computer science. He says Instructor Jeff Whyle works with all middle school students on computer coding during their nine-week exploratory course.

“There’s a couple of different languages he teaches as they progress through that time. But the idea is to give kids enough background so that when they get to high school, they’re ready for the computer science courses there, which inturn then prepares students to be ready for Iowa Central Community College program, which Pillar Technology (a part of Accenture Industry X.0) wholeheartedly supports.”

Finally, Zanders says middle school staff is increasing their Building Academic and Social Expertise (BASE) Camp time from 10 to 20 minutes this school year. Zanders notes the goal of the camp is to give students extra time to develop social and emotional skills and to be better experts in those areas before they get to high school.  

To hear more from Zanders about these programs and the new hires at the middle school, listen to Monday’s Community State Bank in Paton Let’s Talk Greene County program.