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East Hamilton Middle School assistant principal Chrissy Easterly says middle and high school administrative staff will occupy the new school the week of July 13.
“We’re trying to figure out how to make some cohesion out of the chaos,” Easterly told members of the Kiwanis Club of Ooltewah-Collegedale at their June meeting.
The school’s new students represent 18 area schools. While planners originally thought the school would absorb 1,100 students its first year, enrollment is now up to almost 1,300 — and that’s not including a senior class.
East Hamilton Middle School assistant principal Chrissy Easterly looks over the new school’s plans with Kiwanis board member and program chairman Roger Qualey at the Kiwanis Club of Ooltewah-Collegedale’s June meeting.
The school’s total student capacity is 1,600.
“We’re full,” Easterly said. “We’re packed.”
She said Hamilton County has agreed to hire two more teachers and possibly another school administration member to make sure the school is adequately staffed.
The school has accepted 150 students so far who are not zoned for the new school.
“They’re not really accepting any hardships at this point,” Easterly said.
Easterly said Ooltewah Middle School, built for 700 students, will reduce its population from 1,100 students to 600 with the new school.
“Now every (OMS) teacher will have a classroom,” Easterly said.
Each EHMS science teacher will have two classrooms — a traditional classroom and a science lab.
“That, to me, is one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen,” said Easterly, who didn’t see a science lab herself until high school.
Easterly said the new school’s administration is focusing on nurturing students beyond strict academics.
“We’re trying to find things that kids want to come to school for,” Easterly said. “We want kids to stay at the school and be involved in activities.”
Easterly said a built-in activity period twice a week will make clubs and extracurricular activities easier to join. She said teachers will take on different roles during this time and teach a block of ballroom dancing, landscaping or sports statistics. Students who aren’t doing well in class will attend study hall instead.
Easterly said a Public Education Foundation grant will pave the way for teachers to begin talking with students about careers in sixth grade. She said it’s a great opportunity to be able to watch a student from sixth grade to twelfth grade.
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