Frequently Asked Questions

Savanna Oaks serves scholars and families in grades six, seven and eight.  Our staff works to create multiple smaller environments for students to learn within the context of the whole school. To assure this sense of being known, respected, and supported by staff, our schedule is designed to insure that staff collaborate regularly to support student learning. In addition to core content specialists, our teams include diagnostic and learning strategists to attend to students with a variety of characteristics such as emerging bilingual skills, disabilities in learning and other exceptionalities.

All students’ core classes include language arts, math, science and social studies.  Encore and exploratory classes are offered in the areas of music, physical education, family and consumer science, art, world languages and technology education. Historically, we differentiated extensively in all classes, and while we continue to provide a continuum of levels of access to engage our learners, we emphasize a personalized learning approach in accordance with the Verona Area Board of Education’s directives.  Our intention is to meaningfully engage each learner at his or her next steps. We work to allow students to have voice and choice in activities that allow them to engage, explore and demonstrate mastery.

Students at Savanna Oaks experience a variety of assessments.  Some of these are formative to help students, teachers and families follow the progress of learning, and others are summative, demonstrating the degree to which the student has mastered the standards being assessed. Other assessments are based on goals set by the learner in partnership with teachers and often involve both self-assessment as well as feedback from teaching staff.  Our district participates in the NWEA’s Measures of Academic Progress, and students are evaluated in English/language arts and math in the fall and spring. We also use state-directed assessments as they are prescribed.

During this period of rapid growth and change, the family plays a critical role in supporting the development of adolescent scholars. Recognizing the importance of family, Savanna Oaks Middle School seeks the counsel and support of families through regular conferencing, an interactive website, as well as online connections developed and maintained by teachers to foster parents and guardians' ability to monitor learning alongside their child.  Volunteer parents serve on our Continuous Improvement Team contributing directly to our governance. Volunteers assist in classrooms, chaperone field trips, coordinate school events and help facilitate learning for students.

The Savanna Oaks Middle School fosters early adolescent learning by fueling the development of every scholar.  The staff at Savanna Oaks models our habits of community in respectful, engaging, safe and responsible lifelong learning together.  In 2001, Savanna Oaks was recognized by the National Association of Secondary School Principals as one of the top 100 middle schools in the United States.  With high standards and expectations established, the staff continues to explore ways to assist students in meeting impressive standards and expectations. Our staff has taken a leadership role in the VASD’s development of Personalized Learning for all students. We ensure that every student is fully engaged and presented with challenging learning opportunities.

The wonderful diversity in our school community brings with it many opportunities for choice.  Students may choose a variety of music electives at all grade levels. In eighth grade, students select from a menu of elective classes.   There are numerous extra-curricular options open for students, including student council, ski club and drama club. We have extracurricular athletics, math, gaming and affinity clubs, as well as fitness opportunities.  We also offer an after-school homework club for students to work together with the support of teaching staff, using school facilities as well as technology outside the usual school day to further their educational experience.