Back to School: Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School

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For the first time, co-taught classrooms will be introduced at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School this year, according to Principal Tom Brow. Out of 38 classrooms, 19 co-teaching partnerships will be undertaken this year at the middle school.

"One of the benefits of the co-teaching model is that the special ed teacher could be in the classroom with a general education teacher every day, versus every other day," Brow said.

Trimester allows students to take more classes

Middle school students will also have the opportunity to take more classes starting this year, thanks to the move to a trimester schedule, Brow said. Instead of taking half-year courses in subjects such as art, music or foreign languages, students will take those courses three times a year. 

"The sixth and seventh graders will have more opportunities to take more exploratory courses to make their curriculum more rich and robust," Brow said. "It's exciting."

More environmental-friendly initiatives underway

The Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School has been touted for the energy efficiencies included in the now three-year-old building, and Brow said the school is looking to become even greener this coming year. For example, the first 64 pages of the student handbook include rules and regulations.

"We're putting more of those items online so students, teachers, parents and faculty are asked to do more online reading, rather than on things we print, thereby cutting back on the paper," he said.

New Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Teachers

• Julia Apostolos, Science
• Roser Gine, Math Department Chairwoman (also for Melrose High School)
• James Mayers, English Teacher
• Kerin McAuliffe, Math Teacher
• Laurie Pereira, Math Teacher
• Robin Reiner, Science Teacher             
• Brett Sczylvian, English Teacher
• Kerin Walsh, Special Education Teacher