 |
Mt. Tabor Middle School
5800 SE AshPortland, OR 97215
View a map of the surrounding area
Phone: 503-916-5646
Fax: 503-916-2659
E-mail: vtruong@pps.k12.or.us
School-created web pages: http://mttabor.pps.k12.or.us/index.pl
School-brochure: http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools-c/profiles/brochure/Mt Tabor.pdf
Grade levels: 6-8 MS
Principal: Van Truong
About:
Mt. Tabor Middle School is a neighborhood school that is divided into “lodges” of smaller teams. These include Taborsan (Japanese Immersion Program continuation from Richmond Elementary), Cedar Lodge (mixed age, self-contained classrooms) and three community grade-alike lodges– Hawthorne, Redwoods and Sequoia. In addition, Maple Lodge serves the Columbia Regional Program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students and Sycamore Lodge serves Special Education Life Skills students. The lodge model allows the student to identify with a smaller “school within the school”. Two to five teachers lead each lodge and are assigned a core group of students. Together, teachers plan an integrated curriculum, which places a strong focus on academic excellence and the development of independent learning skills. Teachers use a variety of strategies to develop units of study, including direct instruction, research, field trips and many individual and group projects.
Before and after school programs
- Portland SUN Community Schools offers a wide range of classes including:Jazz Band and Choir before school.Dance Team, Fencing, Knitting and various sports activities such as volleyball after school. Homework Club is offered after school for students who need help meeting district benchmarks.
- The Mt. Tabor PTSA sponsors open library before school.
Community partnerships
- Portland Nursery (PTSA support), Mt.Tabor Heights Methodist Church, QFC,Cooper’s Coffee, Jan Caplener Realty Trust Group, Mortgage Loans Northwest, Lampros Steel, Oregon Food Bank.
- Mt.Tabor Neighborhood Association
Student learning environment
- Mt. Tabor is located in a diverse neighborhood, and school programs focus on respecting diversity and teaching students to become responsible members of the community.
- All Mt. Tabor students are assigned to a student-teacher team. Teams focus on integrated instruction in which science, math, social studies, and language arts are taught by teachers working within interdisciplinary teams.
- Teams are composed of two to five teachers who are assigned a core group of students. Each team plans an integrated curriculum that places a strong focus on academic excellence and the development of independent learning skills.
- Mt. Tabor follows a student-centered approach to learning. Peer Helpers, the WEB program, Student Council and Site Council-sponsored programs contribute to a positive school environment.
- The Japanese Language Immersion Magnet Program is a blended-age team composed of students who have been together since kindergarten. The instructional team is composed of Japanese language teachers and subject area specialists. An integrated curriculum provides a partial immersion language program which provides Japanese language instruction and core curriculum instruction in Japanese.
- Cedar Lodge is a blended-age team at Mt. Tabor. A team of three teachers provides integrated instruction in a homeroom setting to a group of sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. Each homeroom becomes a distinct learning community, which creates a close bond between students, families and teacher through three years together. The lodge approach to instruction helps students take responsibility for their own learning and behavior and apply their learning to real-life situations.
Curriculum components
- Mt. Tabor students and staff are members of instructional teams, called lodges, allowing a sense of a small community within the larger school. Each team is organized in a unique way in order to prepare students for high school and to meet their learning needs.
- Mt. Tabor uses a school wide portfolio system and spring-culminating activities including student-led conferences, showcases and capstone projects.
- Rotating elective classes include band, Spanish (7th & 8th grade) computer technology, communications and art.
- Students study three years of science, math, language arts and social studies.
- Media specialists support a strong reading program and provide direct instruction, ensuring information literacy is integrated across the curriculum.
- All eighth graders are required to take middle school algebra. High school geometry is also offered.
- Staff uses curriculum mapping to facilitate cross-grade and cross-subject area integration.
Staff
- The staff includes classroom teachers, special educators, a school psychologist, speech pathologist, student management specialist, counselor, media specialist, assistant principal and principal.
- Mt. Tabor’s teaching teams meet to address issues of curriculum development, behavior management, student activities and recognition.
- Mt. Tabor teachers are involved in continuous professional development focusing on student classroom assessment. They have worked with the Assessment Training Institute.
Parent and family support
- Family members are actively involved in the Site Council and PTSA activities.
- Families provide strong support by volunteering in classrooms, assisting with program development, planning student activities and fundraising.
- The Mt. Tabor PTSA supports many programs at the school through their donation of time and funds.
Special programs and features
- The region’s Deaf/Hard of Hearing Program is housed at Mt. Tabor.
- Mt. Tabor has an English as a Second Language (ESL) program.
- Mt. Tabor’s strong band program includes a marching mand and a jazz band.
- Mt. Tabor is the middle school magnet for the district’s K-12th Japanese Language Immersion Program.
- Cedar Lodge is a self-contained, three year, relationship-based program at Mt.Tabor.
- Mt. Tabor also hosts a Life Skills classroom that serves students with cognitive disabilities.
Statistics and test scores
- Report cards and AYP Scores
Oregon Department of Education school report cards - School Enrollment and Program Data
- Standardized test scores
Course syllabus
[ Top of Page | PPS Home ]
© 2006 Portland Public Schools · 501 North Dixon Street, Portland, Oregon · 97227-1804 · USA 1-503-916-2000 Contact us · Terms of Use · Updated January 19th, 2010
