Frequently Asked Questions
from Memorial Students

A. General Questions about the Memorial Neighborhoods

1. What are the Memorial Neighborhoods? Why are we developing them?
2. How will the Memorial Neighborhoods help the school and its students?

In September 2000, James Madison Memorial High School was awarded $434,000 to implement a Smaller Learning Communities grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Because the City of Madison is known for its strong network of neighborhoods, Memorial decided to create four "Neighborhoods" of 500 students each in an effort to establish smaller learning communities. The main benefits of smaller learning communities are: 1) every student "counts," every student belongs, and every student is noticed and has the opportunity to develop personal relationships with small groups of students and teachers; 2) students are positively affected in the areas of grades, test scores, attendance rates, graduation rates, drug and alcohol use, and school safety.

3. What is wrong with Memorial the way it is right now?

Each year in an annual survey, the #1 complaint from students is that they have no voice in decisions at Memorial. Evaluation reports also show that not everyone likes Memorial. Our goal is to make sure that the best experiences that can be had at Memorial are available to everyone-students and staff alike.

4. What happens if students don't like the Memorial Neighborhoods concept?

Please give it a chance. Too many students don't like Memorial the way it is right now.

5. Will the Memorial Neighborhoods change each year?

Only in the sense that new freshman will replace graduating seniors each year in the Backyard groups.

6. How will students know what Neighborhood they are in?
7. How will students be selected and placed into Neighborhoods?
8. Can we choose friends to be with us in our Neighborhoods?

Students will be randomly assigned to Backyards, Blocks and Neighborhoods by the same software scheduler that randomly assigns students to classes. Each student's class schedule for this fall will show to which neighborhood and backyard he/she belongs. As to the issue of friends, the Neighborhoods, Blocks and Backyards will provide opportunities to strengthen existing friendships and to encourage new friendships. Just as there is no guarantee of being in the same classroom or lunch period with certain friends, the same also applies to Neighborhoods. The school week will provide many chances to be with old and new friends.

9. If I have a conflict with another student or a teacher, can I switch Backyards?

Students will be with their Backyard groups for four years. If conflicts arise, there are a variety of ways and methods to work things out in small groups. Backyards are great places to work on these skills and we trust that students will grow in the process.

B. Questions about Schedules, Classes, and Lunch Periods

10. How will the Memorial Neighborhoods affect the daily class schedule?
11. Will classes be closer together so that we don't have to walk so far?

A decision was made early in the grant-designing process that classrooms and curricula would not be drastically changed. In other words, class schedules and faculty teaching assignments will remain as they are currently structured. The faculty is working on designing an 8-period day instead of the current 7-period day so that students can have 7 class periods, a 50-minute lunch, and time for Backyards to meet on Fridays.

12. Will the Memorial Neighborhoods be one more thing in a student's busy day?

The Memorial Neighborhoods are designed to make a student's busy day more enjoyable, comfortable, and connected.

13. Will students be separated during lunch periods by the Memorial Neighborhoods?

The Memorial Neighborhoods will not affect how students are assigned to a lunch period. That process will remain as it is currently designed.

C. Questions about Choices for Neighborhoods

14. Will the Memorial Neighborhoods have a student government?

Yes-a new model of student government will involve at least 245 students.

15. How much money will each Neighborhood receive?
16. Will students get choices about what to buy for Neighborhood Centers?

Each Neighborhood will have a budget of approximately $5,000. Students will be able to make purchase decisions about decor, furnishings, and events.

17. Will we lose our grade level identity (seniors and homecoming, juniors and prom, etc.)?

The Neighborhoods have been designed to allow these activities to continue, if the students wish.

D. Questions about Neighborhood Centers

18. Which rooms will be converted/remodeled into Neighborhood Centers?

Currently, the four spaces that are planned for remodeling are the Red Room, Room 509, the Breakaway Cafe´ and the B-Wing Courtyard.

19. Will students have to report to their Neighborhoods each day?

Only if they are assigned to a study hour in their Neighborhood Center and, of course, when attending Backyard meetings or going to activity periods on Fridays.

20. How will a Neighborhood Center be different from a study hall?

Fewer students will be assigned to study in a Center compared to study halls. Furnishings and computer access will be different.

21. Will we really be able to talk in Neighborhood Centers during study time?
22. Won't there be a conflict with those who want quiet study time and those who want to work cooperatively (and talk) in a Neighborhood Center?

Similar to the LMC, the Neighborhood Centers are multipurpose spaces. Plans are being made to accommodate as many learning styles as possible.

23. If assigned to a study hour, will students be able to sign out of the Centers?

A system for signing out similar to what is currently used will be designed-for seniors only.

E. Questions about Backyards and Activity Periods

24. What's a Backyard meeting? What's an "activity" period?

Backyard groups are the smallest sub-group of a Neighborhood of 500 students. Comprised of 20 students and 1-2 adults, the Backyard groups will replace our current homeroom system. The Backyards will be randomly assigned with students of all ages, genders, and backgrounds who will be together for four years. These groups will meet on Friday of each week for a 25-minute Backyard time or a 50-minute activity period. During the Activity period, students will be able to to choose from athletic events, academic enhancement opportunities, artistic development, and many other possibilities.

25. Will Neighborhood meetings be mandatory? Will attendance be taken?

Students will follow their schedules during Backyard and Activity periods. A system for tracking attendance has been designed.

26. Can students participate in activities in other Memorial Neighborhoods?
27. Will there be combined Neighborhood activities?

At this time, flexible participation is envisioned.

28. Will after-school activities include a late bus to take students home?

Students who stay after-school to use computers in the Centers, participate in a homework club or study table, or are involved in many more after-school opportunities will be able to take a late bus home.

F. Questions about the Timetable for the Memorial Neighborhoods

29. When will the Memorial Neighborhoods begin?

Officially, the Memorial Neighborhoods will begin in August 2001 either on the first day of school or with the Grand Opening of the Neighborhood Centers. Backyard Groups will meet on the first day to begin the process of getting to know one another.

Unofficially, we have already begun, since there is much behind-the-scenes planning and work to be done before August 2001.

The Answer...to the A-#1 question so far: Why was "Neighborhoods" chosen as a name?

One bright morning last June, the grant-writing team was trying to come up with a word to describe our goal of creating an informal environment in which people could get to know other people. The word also needed to connote democratic decision-making, ownership and belonging, and the flow of society in and out the environment. Stacy Saph, a teacher, said, "That sounds like a neighborhood." From that time onward, the Neighborhood idea has gained local, state and national attention. People "get it" when they hear the word, "Neighborhood."