This is a very important priority for our building and school culture. Students will be supported by a counselor and grade-level administrator who will work with them through grades 6, 7, and 8 during their middle school journey, reducing the need to restart relationships each year. Counselors will intentionally schedule advisory groups within student FLEX (study-hall) periods on a rotating basis during each school year to ensure connection is sustained, and students are aware of resources available to them in the school. 

If your child is currently in 6th or 7th grade, it is possible that your child will experience an initial shift to a new grade level administrator and counselor who was not assigned to their house previously. After this initial shift, each grade level will have dedicated counselors and administrators and coordinated student collaboration to assist with developmentally appropriate needs and transitions.

The intention of this shift is to positively impact instruction! In the grade level team model, teachers will continue to collaborate weekly to align Tier 1 instruction, develop student-centered support, identify and encourage enrichment opportunities, and make recommendations to the building level MTSS team for Tier 2 or 3 individualized supports. The grade level team change will permit a more consistent group of teachers, who share students, to collaborate more regularly.

Students in accelerated courses are often “cross housed” and this creates gaps in their experience and teacher collaboration opportunities. In the new model, advanced and specialized programs are supported through intentional scheduling and coordination to permit teachers to attend collaborative meetings for the group of accelerated students they share and support.

No – in fact, the collaborative opportunities that will be created will benefit students and staff by providing the collaborative time needed to discuss accommodations, executive-functioning support, and consistent routines. This shift will not change the current model for specialized student programming or scheduling.

Absolutely! We are developing plans now to strategically place locker assignments near student classes, and our counseling team will be reviewing all student schedules to minimize travel and support smooth transitions as often as possible throughout the day. Currently, we are auditing our classroom assignments to determine if any classroom shifts will be necessary in the future.

Teachers will consistently attend weekly grade-level MTSS collaboration time, as well as attend common planning periods with colleagues in shared content area/grade level assignments. While grade level common planning time is already a strong part of our practice at Bay Trail, the new grade level MTSS team meetings will support increased collaborative time shared between teachers to identify the academic and social-emotional needs of students they share. As a result, the team will have the opportunity to develop more streamlined team interventions to support all students.

Yes, this is planned to be shared before the end of the school year. A constant goal is to provide clear and proactive two-way communication to answer all questions leading to this official change in September.

There are many upcoming opportunities for the transition and to have further questions answered. An incoming 6th Grade Parent/Caregiver Orientation is scheduled for May (there will also be a virtual option). Additional events such as 6th Grade Orientation in August as well as our annual “walk your schedule” and locker set-up nights will support readiness and familiarity with the building changes.

The biggest change is being grouped by grade level instead of by house. Daily routines stay the same, including our bell schedule, room numbers, and current practices of traveling around the building.  Beginning in September, Bay Trail is changing house teams (A, B, C) to grade‑level teams. This means students will be connected to their grade level (6, 7, 8) instead of by house.  

Aside from building a stronger sense of cohort grade level spirit, other goals of this change are to support flexible scheduling, increase collaboration time/teamwork for teachers, and help students receive the support they need. This change will also provide more opportunities for students to develop new friendships, while also maintaining elementary connections, through the mixed grade level model.  

Under the current house system, 60% of our students already travel to all three “houses” for their CORE subject (ELA, Science, Social Studies, Math) and 100% of students travel the building to attend special area classes.  

6th Grade: Next year, 6th grade students will have their CORE classes scheduled in closer proximity to each other on the first floor of the building to help with their transition to a larger middle school environment.   

7th & 8th Grade: In 7th and 8th grade, due to acceleration or special programs, class locations will remain as it is now with students who travel the building for classes as needed.  

Specials: All students will continue to travel to the special area wing (part of current House C) for specials (PE, Art, Music, Technology, FACS). These classes stay mixed by grade and will continue to meet in their specialized rooms. 

The goal is always to reduce unnecessary travel as much as possible; each year your counselor looks at your schedule to limit the distance that you travel to make it to your next class within the four-minute passing time.  

Lockers will be assigned in specific grade level areas of the building (ex. 6th grade on first floor, 7th and 8th graders on second floor in specific wings). Students in the same grade will generally have lockers close together. 

Counselors will be assigned by grade level instead of by house. You will still have a specific counselor you can go to when you need help. If you are entering 7th or 8th grade, you may have a different counselor next year due to this shift. Counselors will connect early with their assigned students for introductions. As always, you can talk to your grade‑level counselor, any trusted teacher, or a grade‑level administrator. Your support team will remain connected to you, as it is now.  

House offices will change to grade‑level specific offices (ex: 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade). Each grade will have its own main support space. 

Instead of saying ‘House A’ you might say something like “300 wing” or “Special Area Wing” for the area by the FACS/Technology rooms - these areas will be labeled with new signage. 

Project Challenge (Enrichment) classes will continue to be grouped by grade level. ENL supports and Special Education classes will be located throughout the building as they are now providing access for all grades. 

The structure of the building itself won’t change, but signs, room labels, and layouts may reflect grade‑level areas instead of house language. Room numbers will stay the same! 

You can see your current Assistant (House) Principal, Mrs. Savine (Building Principal) or your counselor. We are here to help! We recognize that change can be difficult, but we are here to support you through it!