Ms. Murphy is the Assistant Principal for the sixth and seventh grades. She is also in charge of the Advanced Regents Program. It is her responsibility to supervises the Language Arts, Reading, Science and Arts Departments. Ms. Murphy has also conducted our Schoolwide Spelling & Storytelling Contests. Under her tutelage, the following have been realized: In Language Arts and Reading: o Students are encouraged to use their journals in a variety of ways and for different purposes: to record facts , rules and generalizations; to respond and reflect; to inform and persuade; and to enhance individual literacy. o Teachers are assisting students on skills to raise the quality of their work. o We are incorporating the writing process and writing-to-learn strategies into the language arts curriculum. o We are utilizing prewriting, drafting, revising and proofreading skills in our classes. o Students are using rubrics to edit and analyze their own work. o In the teaching of literature, language arts and reading teachers expose students to multiple genres: short stories, poetry, plays, novels, and film. o Students have participated in class, school-wide, and District #27 Spelling Bees. o Students competed in school and district Storytelling Contests such as: Ezra Jack Keates McDonald's A+ Parents o Students engaged in a variety of essay and art contests, such as. Viacom's Anti-Violence United Nations Hopes & Dreams for the Future. Concerning Science: o In the sciences (life, physical, and earth), teachers are encouraged to utilize a "hands-on" approach as they lead their students to a fuller understanding of the natural sciences. o Students work on projects over the course of the academic year. The youngsters make oral presentations to the class. o All students are encouraged to participate in the yearly Science Fair.