National program recognizes Memorial Junior High School

Valley Stream Memorial Junior High School was named a Rising School to Watch by the Schools to Watch program, an initiative of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform.

Educators from the program’s leadership team spent two days visiting Memorial to evaluate the building as a potential “School to Watch.” The evaluation was based on four criteria: academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity and organizational structure.

According to the Forum’s website, it identifies and disseminates best practices, articulates and promotes effective policies, recognizes and develops enlightened leadership, and informs and engages the public in order to accomplish its goal of improved academic and developmental outcomes for all students in the middle grades.

“This prestigious recognition demonstrates that the academic programs and social and emotional programs offered at Memorial are of extremely high quality. I am so proud of all the success of our students, staff and parents,” said Principal Anthony Mignella. “We will continue to set extremely high academic expectations and develop both the hearts and minds of our students so they can be successful inside and outside of the classroom.”