Welcome to Odyssey 2008-2009!  The Jr. High team welcomes any new students to our WONDERFUL school, and we welcome back our FABULOUS students from last year.  We hope this year will be fun and educational for everyone...we know we're excited to be here again! 

On Saturday, August 2nd, the Jr. High hiked to Stewart Falls.  We had a great time hanging around the waterfall, hiking and climbing, eating lunch, and talking about the Jr. High for this year.  In case you missed this activity, we will be having another activity this Friday night at 8pm (I think) at the Odyssey playground out back.  We will be watching "Meet the Robinsons" outdoor-theatre style! (weather and mosquitos permitting)  The whole family is invited...bring lawn chairs, drinks, snacks, and bug repellant. 

Last year I taught all Jr. High students Language Arts...however, because of Odyssey's implementation of the highly-accredited ECRI (Exemplary Center for Reading Instruction) program, headed by Dr. Ethna Reid, all Jr. High teachers will be teaching Language Arts.  That means I will have only a few of the Jr. High students for Language Arts.  Some of you may have Mr. Sammis, others Mr. Freeman, or Ms. Gulledge, Mrs. Reynolds, Mr. Gingras...so be aware that Jr. High Language Arts may not necessarily be with a Jr. High teacher.  Language Arts will be taught at YOUR STUDENT'S reading level for optimal instruction.

If you are curious as to which classes I will teach this year, here is my schedule:

1st period:  Saxon Math 7/6 (starting in the middle of the book)

2nd period:  CTE--Introduction to Career and Technical Education

3rd period:  CTE--Keyboarding

4th period:  8th grade Core Knowledge Reading

5th period:  PREP

6th period:  Language Arts, Jr. High levels 7 and 10

7th period:  8th grade Girls Health

WEDNESDAYS:  7th grade Art

Student schedules will be given to your student on the first day of classes.  During your student's 5th period, most Jr. High students will take either Latin or Music, but not both like last year.  Classes were determined by the Jr. High staff, Ms. Daniels, the Latin teacher, Mrs. Compton, the Music teacher, and Mrs. Jepperson, a member of Odyssey's administration, based on performance in Latin and Music last year.  If your student was not enrolled at Odyssey last year, he or she was placed in Music by default due to the necessity of basic fundamental Latin language skills needed in order to keep up with the quick pace of this class.  Questions about the Latin and Music classes may be addressed to Ms. Daniels and Mrs. Compton (see the Odyssey homepage). 

This page will be frequently updated as the beginning of school approaches, as well as throughout the year.  Check my page frequently, or you may contact me.

My contact information: 377-1800 (home) 471-5401 (cell) jwatkins@odysseycharter.net (email)