Two Rivers Middle School

Narratives

Architect Narrative

This $25 million educational facility geared toward science, technology, and math, is a compact three-story, 120,000 square foot building with dramatic views to the natural environment. Situated at the confluence of two perpendicular rivers, the foundation required 356 pilings, sunk 95 feet into the ground, to anchor the structure eight stories below the surface. The exterior footprint reflects site conditions, both in its geometrically irregular footprint and the fact that each façade has a different aesthetic expression, blending together the traditional with the “tech”. The exterior façade incorporates traditional brick, curtain wall, glass, exposed structural steel elements, and concrete with the industrial metal panels, column covers, butterfly roof monitors, and overhanging sunlight control systems.

The main floor houses public spaces, such as the Great Hall, gymnasium, and cafeteria. Neon lit interior butterfly ceilings link these large public areas to the main entrances and the ‘tree of learning’ stair. The Great Hall is a dramatic chamber 50 feet high functioning as the main gathering, performance, and focal point within the facility. Within the Great Hall, students, faculty, parents, and others can enjoy natural light and sweeping vistas out to the rivers through the ceramic frit curtain wall system and large triangular clerestory skylight system above. The entrance to the Great Hall contains a stylized three-story “tech” tree trunk wrapped by the main circulating stair, and topped off with a sloped trapezoidal skylight system.

The upper levels of the building incorporate educational components within the facility, each connected by the main stair. The second level contains the media center, professional broadcast quality television studio, and one academic cluster of 220 students. Each cluster contains a common activity teaching environment, in addition to science, technology, math, language, and social studies classrooms. The third level contains two additional administrative and academic clusters.

With the primary educational focus of the school being the fusion of science, technology, and the natural environment significant features were incorporated into the building design that could also serve as a later teaching environment or experiment for the students.

Flexibility was designed into every educational space. In the science labs, technology classrooms, and art studios, fixed equipment, like the sinks, plumbing, and outlets, were placed around the perimeter of the rooms, to create an open and flexible interior. Teachers can educate in clusters, teams, or individually, depending on what works best with their curriculum and evolving pedagogical methods.

Students work from laptops, connected wirelessly to a central computer, to take notes, download data from the Internet, conduct in-class research, gather, analyze, describe, run experiments, and publish scientific data conclusions. Every classroom will have the capacity to bi-directionally stream video, audio, and multimedia presentations in real time and project them onto ceiling mounted screens or wall mounted electronic ‘smart boards’.

Educator Narrative

Mission Statement:

The mission of the Two Rivers Magnet Middle School, in partnership with communities and families, is to assist each child in realizing his/her full potential and become a responsible and productive citizen; to provide a dynamic, challenging, and caring school environment that helps each child become a lifelong learner who is able to understand their relationship with nature, use technology effectively, and appreciate the multicultural society in which we live as we begin the challenges of the Twenty-first century.

Vision Statement:

We embrace the interdependence of our communities and our environment on the banks of the Connecticut and Hockanum Rivers. In this living laboratory, we investigate and explore our world with a sense of wonder, a passion for inquiry, and a vision of the future. The state -of-the-art facility and innovative use of time supports our work by providing us with the necessary resources to collect and analyze data, collaborate together, and justify our findings in a conscientious manner.

Our collective efforts are made possible not only by a commitment to continuous improvement, but also by the vibrant and diverse cultural heritage of the region. Our teachers, family, and community partners work together to ensure that learning is relevant for all students, honoring who we are today and who we hope to become during our time here. By asking many questions, exploring relationships between the old and new, keeping an open mind and cultivating a creative spirit, we seek to create a dynamic environment where anything is possible.
Comprehensive Curriculum

The instructional program is comprehensive and tailored to motivate young adolescents emphasizing a hands-on, active approach to learning. The Two Rivers Magnet Middle Program will:

· Meet or exceed all State curriculum standards.
· Provide the essential skills and content instruction to insure student achievement which will be assessed annually through the CT Mastery test (CMTs) and the “off-year” CMTs;
· Provide students with extensive and in-depth field studies and laboratory experiences.
· Provide students with experiences to understand the environmental issues confronting their local communities, the Connecticut River Valley, and the world as a whole.
· Provide an interdisciplinary, inquiry based approach to learning and assessment.
· Promote an understanding of diversity through experiences within a diverse learning environment.
· Provide a world language instructional program.
· Provide students with performance experiences in the fine arts.
· Provide students with an extensive choice of co-curricular activities that meet the specific needs of young adolescents.

Other Special Features:

2 Rivers has a unique setting on the banks of the Connecticut and Hockanum Rivers. This provides a “living laboratory” environment for hands-on science curriculum.
· A complete indoor Project Adventure facility.
· A weekly extended day program - Thursdays.
· Advanced technology integrated into all instructional areas including a laptop for each student and teacher as well as other cutting edge technologies.
· A state-of-the-art building designed to enhance the school’s curriculum.