Takoma Park Middle School
Encyclopedia
Takoma Park Middle School (TPMS) is a public middle school
in Takoma Park
in Montgomery County
, Maryland
, United States
. TPMS contains a total of 18 academic departments, as well as a specialized magnet program. The city of Takoma Park
is assigned to this school.
The school is notable for its magnet program
, which draws students from both the Silver Spring area and across Montgomery County
, and makes up approximately 30% of TPMS's student population. TPMS is also recognized as a Maryland Green School. The principal of the school is Mrs. Mildred Charley-Greene.
. In the late 1920s, T-SSHS expanded to consist of the middle grades 7 through 9, and by the early 1930s, grades K through 12. Due to an ever growing population, the high grades (10 through 12) left the school to form Montgomery Blair High School
in 1935. By the end of the 1930s, further population growth fueled the need for a new junior high school
; as a result, the middle grades relocated from Takoma-Silver Spring School to the new Takoma Park Middle School in March of 1940. Takoma-Silver Spring School was then renamed Silver Spring Intermediate School (SSI), which served as an elementary school until 1972, not to be confused with Silver Spring International Middle School. In 1992, the historic SSI building was demolished and the former school campus became a community park.
Several additions were made to the original Takoma Park Middle School building throughout the twentieth century. Six classrooms were added August 12, 1941. In December 1941 an estimate was made for a 3-classroom and shop addition, but this construction was delayed by war-time shortages. The next additions did not occur until September 1949: 7 classrooms, a library, office and gymnasium. In 1961, four teaching stations and an office were added. Lastly, in 1966 a new Library was added. In 1997, the original 60-year-old building was demolished and rebuilt.
, but they were removed by 2007.
The Lee Jordan Athletic Field, consisting of a 400-meter track
which encloses the general combination football/soccer/baseball/softball field, resides north of the main building. To the east of the building are three basketball courts and four tennis courts. A greenhouse
is located to the southwest of the building for use by horticulture groups. The school has three main parking lots, one for over 12 buses, one adjacent to the field, and one for both faculty members and visitors.
The main building is composed of three floors, with two gym
nasia and a cafeteria
which doubles as an auditorium. The school also has standard classrooms and academic facilities, including six science laboratories, at least four computer technology labs, and a home economics lab. There is a media center/library and television studio located on the second floor. The television studio is the sight of filming for the daily announcements, called 'Wake-Up Takoma'.
. TPMS is home to the print newspaper Blue Chips and the now defunct online newspaper Blue Chips Online. TPMS also has a student television production unit that produces a daily announcement program called Wake Up Takoma, which aires at 8:00 on weekday mornings and is run by students. Takoma Park Middle School offers an instructional program for all public school students living within its boundary area. This program includes not only the core academic subjects but also foreign language, arts, music, physical education, and four 'arts rotation' elective courses. A METS (Multidisciplinary Education, Training, and Support) program serves students with limited English proficiency and interrupted schooling.
TPMS consists of a specialized program and 17 academic departments, offering a diverse range of disciplines and courses. These 17 departments are as follows: Art, Counseling, English, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Family and Consumer Science (Home Economics), Foreign Language, Health and Physical Education, Instrumental Music, Mathematics/Science/Computer Science Magnet Program, Mathematics, Media Center, Media Productions, Reading, Science, Social Studies, Special Education, and Technology Education.
opened its first middle school Mathematics/Science/Computer Science Magnet Program within Takoma Park Middle School. The Magnet Program offers accelerated, interdisciplinary courses in mathematics, science, and computer science for students who are particularly interested in these subjects. The current coordinator of the Magnet Program is Scott DeGasperis.
Before the start of second semester in 5th grade, students who reside in Montgomery County
are eligible to apply to the Magnet Program. The application process involves a written application including essays, teacher recommendations, and elementary school transcripts. All applicants are required to take a written entrance exam in the spring which tests math, science, humanities, and logical thinking. The program accepts only 100 students from across the county each year. However, students may be recommended for the magnet program for 7th or 8th grade.
Magnet students take three advanced courses each semester within the Magnet curriculum — mathematics, science, and computer science — and five courses each semester in other disciplines (English, social studies, fine arts, foreign language, physical education, etc.) with the rest of the TPMS student body. Math courses include Pre-algebra
, Algebra I
, Geometry
, and Algebra II
. Most students begin their math course sequence with Pre-algebra
in sixth grade, however, depending on their skill level and experience, students may choose to begin their course sequence with Algebra I
or even Geometry
in sixth grade. The most advanced Magnet students may commute each day to Montgomery Blair High School
to take the course Magnet Functions (accelerated Precalculus
). A unit in Magnet Algebra I
explores the relationships between Mathematical Sets and Rubik's Cube
s, which leads to TPMS's annual Rubik's Cube Competition. In the Magnet Computer Science
6, students study the evolution of computers, telecommunications, typing
, and the software components of Microsoft Office
, including Excel
, Access
, and Powerpoint, as well as the basics for the programming language, TrueBASIC. Seventh grade computer science topics include further TrueBASIC programming, and the study of web publishing and design with the Hypertext Markup Language
. Advanced TrueBASIC programming skills and object-oriented programming are taught in Magnet Computer Science
8, in addition to JavaScript
and advanced HTML
. A language known as Logo
was formerly taught in eighth grade, but now a unit in the curriculum is based on the object-oriented programming language Scratch. Science courses cover the basics of various topics in Physics
, Chemistry
, Environmental Science
, Geology
, Space Science
, Biology
, Anatomy
, Meteorology
, and Astronomy
. Each year, magnet students complete a Science Expo project to be displayed on Science Expo night along with the projects of their non-magnet peers. Magnet Science 6 contains a unique unit at the end of the year that covers Rube Goldberg Machine
s, and their relations to physics and energy transformations. During this unit, students are required to design and build their own Rube Goldberg Machine. In Magnet Science 8, the Science Expo project is expanded into a year-long Capstone project.
The Mathematics, Science, and Computer Science Magnet Program at Montgomery Blair High School
is considered to be a continuation of TPMS's Magnet Program. As such, approximately 50% of TPMS Magnet students are accepted to continue their education at MBHS
's Magnet Program.
Magnet students have been winners of many state and national competitions. In 2005, four Magnet students from TPMS achieved perfect scores on the AMC 8, tying the school with First Colony Middle School
for the most perfect scores from a single school . Students in the Magnet Program began competing in the National Science Bowl in the 2007-2008 school year. In all the three years they have won the Maryland Regional Science Bowl and progressed onto the national competitions, where they placed 13th in 2008, 5th in 2009, 5th again in 2010, and 9th in 2011.
Notable magnet teachers include Kathryn Saftner, who teaches Magnet Algebra I, hosts the annual Rubik's Cube
Competition, and leads the competitive Math Team. Another notable teacher is James Street, the seventh grade computer science
teacher, who maintains the school's website, though he recently left to teach Research and Experimentation at Montgomery Blair High School.
and French
. While foreign languages are technically a high-school courses, and large percentage of the student body is enrolled in a foreign language, many beginning in sixth grade or earlier.
, District of Columbia Youth Orchestras, and the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras
.
, Baseball
, Softball
, Soccer, Cross Country
, and Step
. The Boys Basketball team went undefeated from 2005 to 2006 (14-0) led by Leon Scales and Agwe Tabrey, and Ben Hukill (2 points all year) played a key role cheering from the end of the bench. Although it went 6-1 in the 2007 season, the team still captured 1st place for the 3rd straight year, setting a new middle school record for Montgomery County. The Girls Soccer Team went undefeated from 2005 to 2008. TPMS also holds an annual sporting event for students called the Turkey Trot, which is an approximately 1 mile run around the school. Takoma hopes to have more success in the future. The current sixth graders have shown amazing potential.
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
in Takoma Park
Takoma Park, Maryland
Takoma Park is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Washington, D.C., and part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Founded in 1883 and incorporated in 1890, Takoma Park, informally called "Azalea City," is a Tree City USA and a nuclear-free zone...
in Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. TPMS contains a total of 18 academic departments, as well as a specialized magnet program. The city of Takoma Park
Takoma Park, Maryland
Takoma Park is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Washington, D.C., and part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Founded in 1883 and incorporated in 1890, Takoma Park, informally called "Azalea City," is a Tree City USA and a nuclear-free zone...
is assigned to this school.
The school is notable for its magnet program
Magnet school
In education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
, which draws students from both the Silver Spring area and across Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
, and makes up approximately 30% of TPMS's student population. TPMS is also recognized as a Maryland Green School. The principal of the school is Mrs. Mildred Charley-Greene.
History
Takoma Park Middle School's foundations stretch back to the historic Takoma-Silver Spring School, which was located on a 3.8-acre campus at the corner of Philadelphia Avenue and Chicago Avenue in suburban Takoma Park, MarylandTakoma Park, Maryland
Takoma Park is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Washington, D.C., and part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Founded in 1883 and incorporated in 1890, Takoma Park, informally called "Azalea City," is a Tree City USA and a nuclear-free zone...
. In the late 1920s, T-SSHS expanded to consist of the middle grades 7 through 9, and by the early 1930s, grades K through 12. Due to an ever growing population, the high grades (10 through 12) left the school to form Montgomery Blair High School
Montgomery Blair High School
Montgomery Blair High School is a public high school located in unincorporated Silver Spring in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States...
in 1935. By the end of the 1930s, further population growth fueled the need for a new junior high school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
; as a result, the middle grades relocated from Takoma-Silver Spring School to the new Takoma Park Middle School in March of 1940. Takoma-Silver Spring School was then renamed Silver Spring Intermediate School (SSI), which served as an elementary school until 1972, not to be confused with Silver Spring International Middle School. In 1992, the historic SSI building was demolished and the former school campus became a community park.
Several additions were made to the original Takoma Park Middle School building throughout the twentieth century. Six classrooms were added August 12, 1941. In December 1941 an estimate was made for a 3-classroom and shop addition, but this construction was delayed by war-time shortages. The next additions did not occur until September 1949: 7 classrooms, a library, office and gymnasium. In 1961, four teaching stations and an office were added. Lastly, in 1966 a new Library was added. In 1997, the original 60-year-old building was demolished and rebuilt.
Campus
The Takoma Park Middle School campus covers 18.8 acres in suburban Takoma Park and is approximately rectangular in shape. The original school building, built on March 15, 1940, contained 107758 sq ft (10,011 m²) of space. However, the current building, constructed in 1998, currently contains 137348 sq ft (12,760 m²) of space. At one point, the campus included three additional portable buildingsPortable classroom
A portable classroom A portable classroom A portable classroom (in Australian English a demountable and often referred to as a demountable, a "Terrapin" or a "Portakabin" (after the two companies) in the UK and called a prefab in Ireland (not to be confused with a prefabricated building) is a...
, but they were removed by 2007.
The Lee Jordan Athletic Field, consisting of a 400-meter track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
which encloses the general combination football/soccer/baseball/softball field, resides north of the main building. To the east of the building are three basketball courts and four tennis courts. A greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
is located to the southwest of the building for use by horticulture groups. The school has three main parking lots, one for over 12 buses, one adjacent to the field, and one for both faculty members and visitors.
The main building is composed of three floors, with two gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
nasia and a cafeteria
Cafeteria
A cafeteria is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or school; a school dining location is also referred to as a dining hall or canteen...
which doubles as an auditorium. The school also has standard classrooms and academic facilities, including six science laboratories, at least four computer technology labs, and a home economics lab. There is a media center/library and television studio located on the second floor. The television studio is the sight of filming for the daily announcements, called 'Wake-Up Takoma'.
Demographics
As of 2005, the school has an enrollment of 986 students. TPMS is notable for the diversity of its student body: African Americans make up 29.5% of the population, Caucasians 34.6%, Hispanics 13.6% and Asians 22%. http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/03755.pdfAcademics
Because of its Mathematics/Science/Computer Science Magnet Program, TPMS attracts students from across the entire county. Additionally, the school has a Gifted and Talented (GT) ProgramGifted education
Gifted education is a broad term for special practices, procedures and theories used in the education of children who have been identified as gifted or talented...
. TPMS is home to the print newspaper Blue Chips and the now defunct online newspaper Blue Chips Online. TPMS also has a student television production unit that produces a daily announcement program called Wake Up Takoma, which aires at 8:00 on weekday mornings and is run by students. Takoma Park Middle School offers an instructional program for all public school students living within its boundary area. This program includes not only the core academic subjects but also foreign language, arts, music, physical education, and four 'arts rotation' elective courses. A METS (Multidisciplinary Education, Training, and Support) program serves students with limited English proficiency and interrupted schooling.
TPMS consists of a specialized program and 17 academic departments, offering a diverse range of disciplines and courses. These 17 departments are as follows: Art, Counseling, English, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Family and Consumer Science (Home Economics), Foreign Language, Health and Physical Education, Instrumental Music, Mathematics/Science/Computer Science Magnet Program, Mathematics, Media Center, Media Productions, Reading, Science, Social Studies, Special Education, and Technology Education.
Mathematics/Science/Computer Science Magnet Program
In the mid-1980s, Montgomery County Public SchoolsMontgomery County Public Schools
Montgomery County Public Schools ' is a school district that serves Montgomery County, Maryland, USA. It is the largest school district in Maryland. As of the 2009–2010 school year, the district had 11,500 FTE teachers serving 141,777 students at 200 schools.Students in the district score among the...
opened its first middle school Mathematics/Science/Computer Science Magnet Program within Takoma Park Middle School. The Magnet Program offers accelerated, interdisciplinary courses in mathematics, science, and computer science for students who are particularly interested in these subjects. The current coordinator of the Magnet Program is Scott DeGasperis.
Before the start of second semester in 5th grade, students who reside in Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
are eligible to apply to the Magnet Program. The application process involves a written application including essays, teacher recommendations, and elementary school transcripts. All applicants are required to take a written entrance exam in the spring which tests math, science, humanities, and logical thinking. The program accepts only 100 students from across the county each year. However, students may be recommended for the magnet program for 7th or 8th grade.
Magnet students take three advanced courses each semester within the Magnet curriculum — mathematics, science, and computer science — and five courses each semester in other disciplines (English, social studies, fine arts, foreign language, physical education, etc.) with the rest of the TPMS student body. Math courses include Pre-algebra
Pre-algebra
Pre-Algebra is a common name for a course in middle school mathematics. In the United States, it is generally taught between the fifth and eighth grades, although it may be necessary to take this course as early as sixth grade in order to advance to Calculus BC by twelfth grade...
, Algebra I
Algebra
Algebra is the branch of mathematics concerning the study of the rules of operations and relations, and the constructions and concepts arising from them, including terms, polynomials, equations and algebraic structures...
, Geometry
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
, and Algebra II
Algebra
Algebra is the branch of mathematics concerning the study of the rules of operations and relations, and the constructions and concepts arising from them, including terms, polynomials, equations and algebraic structures...
. Most students begin their math course sequence with Pre-algebra
Pre-algebra
Pre-Algebra is a common name for a course in middle school mathematics. In the United States, it is generally taught between the fifth and eighth grades, although it may be necessary to take this course as early as sixth grade in order to advance to Calculus BC by twelfth grade...
in sixth grade, however, depending on their skill level and experience, students may choose to begin their course sequence with Algebra I
Algebra
Algebra is the branch of mathematics concerning the study of the rules of operations and relations, and the constructions and concepts arising from them, including terms, polynomials, equations and algebraic structures...
or even Geometry
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
in sixth grade. The most advanced Magnet students may commute each day to Montgomery Blair High School
Montgomery Blair High School
Montgomery Blair High School is a public high school located in unincorporated Silver Spring in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States...
to take the course Magnet Functions (accelerated Precalculus
Precalculus
In American mathematics education, precalculus , an advanced form of secondary school algebra, is a foundational mathematical discipline. It is also called Introduction to Analysis. In many schools, precalculus is actually two separate courses: Algebra and Trigonometry...
). A unit in Magnet Algebra I
Algebra
Algebra is the branch of mathematics concerning the study of the rules of operations and relations, and the constructions and concepts arising from them, including terms, polynomials, equations and algebraic structures...
explores the relationships between Mathematical Sets and Rubik's Cube
Rubik's Cube
Rubik's Cube is a 3-D mechanical puzzle invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik.Originally called the "Magic Cube", the puzzle was licensed by Rubik to be sold by Ideal Toy Corp. in 1980 and won the German Game of the Year special award for Best Puzzle that...
s, which leads to TPMS's annual Rubik's Cube Competition. In the Magnet Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
6, students study the evolution of computers, telecommunications, typing
Typing
Typing is the process of inputting text into a device, such as a typewriter, cell phone, computer, or a calculator, by pressing keys on a keyboard. It can be distinguished from other means of input, such as the use of pointing devices like the computer mouse, and text input via speech...
, and the software components of Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office is a non-free commercial office suite of inter-related desktop applications, servers and services for the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, introduced by Microsoft in August 1, 1989. Initially a marketing term for a bundled set of applications, the first version of...
, including Excel
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is a proprietary commercial spreadsheet application written and distributed by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications...
, Access
Microsoft Access
Microsoft Office Access, previously known as Microsoft Access, is a relational database management system from Microsoft that combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface and software-development tools. It is a member of the Microsoft Office suite of...
, and Powerpoint, as well as the basics for the programming language, TrueBASIC. Seventh grade computer science topics include further TrueBASIC programming, and the study of web publishing and design with the Hypertext Markup Language
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
. Advanced TrueBASIC programming skills and object-oriented programming are taught in Magnet Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
8, in addition to JavaScript
JavaScript
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
and advanced HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
. A language known as Logo
Logo (programming language)
Logo is a multi-paradigm computer programming language used in education. It is an adaptation and dialect of the Lisp language; some have called it Lisp without the parentheses. It was originally conceived and written as functional programming language, and drove a mechanical turtle as an output...
was formerly taught in eighth grade, but now a unit in the curriculum is based on the object-oriented programming language Scratch. Science courses cover the basics of various topics in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, Environmental Science
Environmental science
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences, to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems...
, Geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
, Space Science
Space science
The term space science may mean:* The study of issues specifically related to space travel and space exploration, including space medicine.* Science performed in outer space ....
, Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, Anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
, Meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
, and Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
. Each year, magnet students complete a Science Expo project to be displayed on Science Expo night along with the projects of their non-magnet peers. Magnet Science 6 contains a unique unit at the end of the year that covers Rube Goldberg Machine
Rube Goldberg machine
A Rube Goldberg machine, contraption, device, or apparatus is a deliberately over-engineered or overdone machine that performs a very simple task in a very complex fashion, usually including a chain reaction...
s, and their relations to physics and energy transformations. During this unit, students are required to design and build their own Rube Goldberg Machine. In Magnet Science 8, the Science Expo project is expanded into a year-long Capstone project.
The Mathematics, Science, and Computer Science Magnet Program at Montgomery Blair High School
Montgomery Blair High School
Montgomery Blair High School is a public high school located in unincorporated Silver Spring in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States...
is considered to be a continuation of TPMS's Magnet Program. As such, approximately 50% of TPMS Magnet students are accepted to continue their education at MBHS
Montgomery Blair High School
Montgomery Blair High School is a public high school located in unincorporated Silver Spring in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States...
's Magnet Program.
Magnet students have been winners of many state and national competitions. In 2005, four Magnet students from TPMS achieved perfect scores on the AMC 8, tying the school with First Colony Middle School
Fort Bend Independent School District
The Fort Bend Independent School District, also known as Fort Bend ISD or FBISD, is a school district system in the U.S. state of Texas based in the city of Sugar Land....
for the most perfect scores from a single school . Students in the Magnet Program began competing in the National Science Bowl in the 2007-2008 school year. In all the three years they have won the Maryland Regional Science Bowl and progressed onto the national competitions, where they placed 13th in 2008, 5th in 2009, 5th again in 2010, and 9th in 2011.
Notable magnet teachers include Kathryn Saftner, who teaches Magnet Algebra I, hosts the annual Rubik's Cube
Rubik's Cube
Rubik's Cube is a 3-D mechanical puzzle invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik.Originally called the "Magic Cube", the puzzle was licensed by Rubik to be sold by Ideal Toy Corp. in 1980 and won the German Game of the Year special award for Best Puzzle that...
Competition, and leads the competitive Math Team. Another notable teacher is James Street, the seventh grade computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
teacher, who maintains the school's website, though he recently left to teach Research and Experimentation at Montgomery Blair High School.
Foreign Language Department
The Foreign Language Department offers studies in SpanishSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. While foreign languages are technically a high-school courses, and large percentage of the student body is enrolled in a foreign language, many beginning in sixth grade or earlier.
Instrumental Music Department
The Instrumental Music Department consists of two orchestras, four bands, and one jazz band: Advanced Orchestra, Intermediate Orchestra, Advanced Band, Intermediate Band, 6th Grade Band, Beginning Band, and Jazz Band. The Advanced Orchestra has consistently earned superior ratings at county and state orchestra festivals for many years. Members of the Advanced Orchestra and Advanced Band have performed with various other ensembles, such as the Montgomery County Honors and Maryland All-State Honors Bands and Orchestras. They also participate in high-level select orchestra groups such as the Maryland Classic Youth OrchestrasMaryland Classic Youth Orchestras
The Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras, or MCYO, is a youth orchestra program in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area founded in 1946 as the Montgomery County Youth Orchestras. Along with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the National Philharmonic, MCYO is affiliated with the Strathmore...
, District of Columbia Youth Orchestras, and the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras
American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras
The American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras is group of orchestras formerly known as Northern Virginia Youth Symphony Association. Comprising two full orchestras , a training orchestra , a string orchestra The American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras (AYPO) is group of orchestras formerly known as...
.
Athletics
The student athletics program offers 6 different sports, including: BasketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, Baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, Softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, Soccer, Cross Country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, and Step
Step dance
Step dance is the generic term for dance styles where the footwork is the most important part of the dance. Body and arm movements and styling are either restricted or considered irrelevant.Step dance is one end of a spectrum of dance styles...
. The Boys Basketball team went undefeated from 2005 to 2006 (14-0) led by Leon Scales and Agwe Tabrey, and Ben Hukill (2 points all year) played a key role cheering from the end of the bench. Although it went 6-1 in the 2007 season, the team still captured 1st place for the 3rd straight year, setting a new middle school record for Montgomery County. The Girls Soccer Team went undefeated from 2005 to 2008. TPMS also holds an annual sporting event for students called the Turkey Trot, which is an approximately 1 mile run around the school. Takoma hopes to have more success in the future. The current sixth graders have shown amazing potential.
Student activities
TPMS has over 40 specialized teams or clubs:- Chess Club
- Computer Team
- Drama Club
- Eureka! Club
- Games Club
- Geography Club
- Green Club
- GRRL Technology Club
- Homework Club
- Horticulture Club
- International Club
- Jazz Ensemble
- Difference Makers Club
- Jump Start Club
- MathCounts
- Math Team
- Model United Nations Club
- Multimedia Club
- Robotics Team
- Science Bowl Team
- Science Club
- Ski Club
- Step Team
- Student Government Association (SGA)
- Yearbook Club
Science Bowl Team
The Takoma Park Middle School science bowl team has been in existence for only 4 full years to date. However, those four years have generated four regional winning champion teams, with the most recent including former 8th graders Catherine Xue, Michael Winer, Bendeguz Offertaler, Sarah Wagner, Victor Xu.Chess Club
The Chess Club possesses several chess trophies, and took second place at the 2008 USCF-rated Maryland Scholastic Chess Championships.MathCounts
MathCounts participates in math competitions at the chapter and state level each year. It is held by Magnet Geometry and Magnet Algebra II teacher, Sarah Manchester. The group has also sent students to the national level, representing the state of Maryland. Their team has come in first place at the state level competition since TPMS's MathCounts team was founded.Sports
- Steve FrancisSteve FrancisSteven D'Shawn Francis is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association. He had also played for the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, and New York Knicks...
, NBA All-Star with the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, and New York Knicks
Arts and Media
- Connie ChungConnie ChungConnie Chung, full name: Constance Yu-Hwa Chung Povich is an American journalist who has been an anchor and reporter for the U.S. television news networks NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, and MSNBC. Some of her more famous interview subjects include Claus von Bülow and U.S...
, journalist - Goldie HawnGoldie HawnGoldie Jeanne Hawn is an American actress, film director, producer, and occasional singer. Hawn is known for her roles in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Private Benjamin, Foul Play, Overboard, Bird on a Wire, Death Becomes Her, The First Wives Club, and Cactus Flower, for which she won the 1969...
, actress (Class of 1959) - Ron HollowayRon HollowayRonald Edward "Ron" Holloway is an American tenor saxophonist. He is listed in the Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz where veteran jazz critic Ira Gitler described Holloway as a "bear-down-hard-bopper who can blow authentic R&B and croon a ballad with warm, blue feeling." Holloway is the recipient...
, tenor saxophonist (Class of 1968) - Rick LeventhalRick LeventhalRichard Gary Leventhal , known professionally as Rick Leventhal, is an American reporter. He is a senior correspondent for Fox News Channel since June 1997. Before joining FNC he spent 10 years in local news, reporting and anchoring in markets including Columbia and Spartanburg, West Palm Beach and...
, broadcast journalist, Correspondent, Fox News ChannelFox News ChannelFox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
(Class of 1974)