Our school is a 6th - 8th grade public school of approximately 712 students.  We offer the core curriculum of health, reading, language arts, science, math, and social studies, as well as the fine arts of music, art, and physical education.

    Key West is the last key in the beautiful Florida Keys, and our school is the southernmost middle school in the United States.  Cuba is only a short 90 miles south of our location.  We enjoy a warm tropical climate all year with an occasional rain shower in the summer and a possible cold front of 60 degrees or so on occasion.  Our Buccaneer mascot which stands proudly at the front of our school is reminiscent of the treasure hunters who once sailed in the warm waters of Key West looking for lost treasure. 

 

We are an "A" school!

Student Schedule

Six (6) 55 minute periods a day with a 15 minute homeroom at the beginning of the day.  4^th period (class / lunch time) runs 76 minutes.  Four (4) minutes between HR & classes.  Academic Schedule: Reading (Advanced / Regular), Language Arts, Math (Advanced, Regular, HS Algebra & HS Geometry) Science, Social Studies.

Examples of a FEW Enrichment Activities (these give you an idea of what we do with the time left over from curriculum compacting)

1. Clone- a simulation of a Senate committee hearing on cloning- students play the parts of senators, clones and scientists of the future

2. Lewis and Clark- tracing the route of Lewis and Clark, forming corps, facing dilemmas modeled after the real experiences of Lewis and Clark and writing creatively about historically accurate incidences

3. Plays/readers theatre

4. Trials- complete with a jury, lawyers, witnesses and the accused

5. SAT/PSAT study-daily preparation for these important tests

6. War Lords of Japan- joining clans or samurai families’ students try to earn the title of Shogun through planning and teamwork

7. Galaxy- simulation of an intergalactic civil war

8. Podium- public speaking skills

9. Brainstorming- creative thinking activities

10. Think about It! - accelerated math problems for gifted learners

Band Program

5^th Grade Recruitment: 5^th Grade students are recruited from Gerald Adams Elementary, Glynn Archer Elementary, Poinciana Elementary, and Sigsbee Elementary.  Music appointments are set up with each new student and his/her parents.  The program is explained, questions are answered, and students have the opportunity to play the instruments that are available. Between 50-80 students sign up for band each year.

6th Grade Band: Students are taught how to play an instrument and read music.  Students in the Horace O’Bryant Band have little or no previous instrumental experience.  Students are scheduled either in the Woodwind Class (flute, clarinet, alto saxophone) or the Brass/Percussion Class (trumpet, French horn, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba, percussion). 

Standard of Excellence (Book 1) – This book focuses on tone production, flat, sharp, and natural signs, key signatures (Bb, Eb, and F Major), tuning, articulation, accents, slurs, percussion techniques (snare, mallets, crash cymbals, timpani, etc.), rhythms (from whole notes and whole rests to dotted quarter notes), time signatures, and music symbols such as solo, soli, and D.C. al fine.

Grade ½ - Grade 1 music – Grade ½ music is the easiest music written (for beginners) and all students should be able to play grade 1 music after a year of instruction.

7^th Grade Band: This band has students who have been in the band for one year or who have little or no previous instrumental experience.  Each 7^th Grade Band class has full instrumentation.  Dr. Brent Register from Clarion University of Pennsylvania writes, “I am impressed particularly with the balance of instrumentation achieved in all of the grades, and how you have disregarded gender barriers in order to attain this balance.”

Standard of Excellence (Book 2) – This book builds upon the concepts presented in book 1.  In addition, the book introduces the students to the following concert keys (Bb, Eb, F, Ab, C Major, G, and C minor), the use of staccato, legato, and tenuto articulations, lip slurs, rhythms (sixteenth notes, dotted eighth notes followed by a sixteenth note, etc.), time signatures (alla breve, 3/8, and 6/8) and music symbols (D.S. al Fine, Coda, etc.).

Grade 1 – Grade 2 music – This music can be played by students with one to two years of instrumental experience.

8^th Grade Band: This band has students who have participated in the band for one or more years or who have little or no instrumental experience. This band has full instrumentation.

Standard of Excellence (Book 3) – This book builds upon the skills presented in book 1 and book 2.

Grade 2 – Grade 3 music – This music can be played by students with two to three years of instrumental experience.

4 concerts (6^th, 7^th & 8^th grade) October, December, March, and May

Jazz Band (7^th/8^th grade) - This is an after-school activity.  The jazz band meets on Thursdays from 3:30pm-4:15pm.  Students who play saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone, percussion, piano, guitar, or bass have the opportunity to participate.

Monroe All-County Band (7^th/8^th grade) band members are chosen to participate in the Monroe All-County Middle School Band.  Students attend rehearsals and a concert directed by a guest director.

Sample of Extra Activities

Trip to Orlando – (8^th Grade) This is a band trip taken annually.  Students have the opportunity to be evaluated by a music educator.  The trip also builds a sense of community within the group.

Band Day performance at football game (8^th grade) – This is an annual performance.  Students have the opportunity to rehearse and perform with the Key West High School Band at a Friday night football game. 

Note: 70% of the Key West High School Band is made up of students who attended and participated in the Horace O’Bryant Middle School Band.

Dr. Brent Register from Clarion University of Pennsylvania writes, “First and foremost I should report that you have developed an outstanding program and, as mentioned, I wish that the instrumental programs in western Pennsylvania could be as comprehensive and far-reaching into the community.”

Outside Agencies/Counseling Services/Scholarship Programs

a “Full Service School”

Take Stock in Children  “Two extra site contacts (two additional stipends) would be necessary with two extra contract signings each year.” – HOB had 27 7^th and 8^th grade TSIC scholars during the 05-06 school year.  Each school must have a site contact to coordinate the identification of students, the contract signings, and the weekly mentoring sessions.  Denise Santiago

College Explorers “We currently work with students from Sugarloaf Middle, HOB, KWHS, Marathon High School, and the PACE Center for Girls.  It would be much more difficult to provide services to four K-8 schools as opposed to one 6-8 school in Key West because of time constraints (weekly tutoring sessions, weekly enrichment activities at FKCC, etc.), and there is no funding to hire more staff.  Three additional site contacts would be necessary and there is no funding for these positions.  Just because the school district changes structuring does not mean the state will change our funding.” - Amy Wardlow

CINS/FINS (Children in need of services/Families in need of services) truancy intervention/ungovernable behavior counselors and anger management Alex Sorrentino

DJJ (Dept. of Juvenile Justice) Monthly meetings are held at HOB and KWHS with all juvenile probation officers.  Information on grades, attendance, and behavior was shared as well as upcoming detention/commitment hearings where administrators were asked to be present.  JPOs frequently come to HOB to counsel their students and to receive updates on progress.

IDDS (Intensive Juvenile Diversion Program) – Ira Goldstein – ‘More physical locations means much more work.  More administrators to work with.” – There is constant communication between the IDDS counselors, students, and administrators both by phone and at the school site.  IDDS counselors often sit in on parent conferences and meet with students’ teachers.  Please contact Denise Santiago

Teen Court – Karol Cotton – “I received just one citation from elementary schools this year and don’t feel that the younger students should be exposed to the older ones.  The younger students will try to emulate the older students’ behaviors, and middle school students have an entirely different set of problems that need to be kept separate from the elementary students.” – Teen court is for first-time offenders, and Mrs. Cotton works closely with the school to monitor progress.  She also makes visits to the school to meet with students.

School Resource Officer – Officer Henry Arroyo

Alateen (counseling services for students who are affected by alcohol or drug abuse in their family/friends) – Linda Rysman – “We currently have two volunteer Alateen counselors servicing the students of HOB and KWHS.  With our work schedules, we are stretched to provide services to the current schools and unfortunately would be unable to volunteer more hours.” – Alateen at HOB meets once a week for the entire school year and works with students in all three grade levels.  Linda Missert

Life Skills Counselor - Care Center for Mental Health – Dr. Michael Funk, director.   HOB has a full-time Life Skills counselor (Orieon Thurston) working with students who have the most severe counseling needs.  The Life Skills counselor is called upon to help the SRO determine whether a Baker Act procedure is necessary as well as the follow up counseling required after the return to the school.

Healthy Start- Arianna Nesbitt

School nurse/nurse’s assistant – HOB currently has a part-time nurse and a full-time nurse’s assistant who administer medications, first aid, and respond to medical emergencies.