Fairgrounds Middle School is a middle 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...

 in Nashua, New Hampshire

Nashua, New Hampshire

-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 86,494 people, 35,044 households, and 21,876 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,719.9 people per square mile . There were 37,168 housing units at an average density of 1,202.8 per square mile...

. It is located on Cleveland Street, in a neighborhood southwest of downtown. The school enrolls about 500-600 students in grades 6-8. The school's name refers to a time in the past when a traveling fair would stop on the land where the school is now built. The school year is divided into trimesters. The school day is split into seven periods.

Grades

Each grade is divided into teams, which are named according to a theme. 6th grade has teams named Yellow Jackets , Wolkpack , Eagles Tigers, 7th has teams named the Pirates , Patriot, and Fighting Irish., and 8th has 3 teams. Every 6th grade team has 3 teachers and every 7th and 8th grade team has 4 teachers.

Studies

The school day is split into seven periods. Each grade may have Math, English, History, Science and two electives that may change each trimester, and one extra required period for the grade. Students may also take chorus or band in place of an elective or take both and alternate every day. For 6th grade, the requirement is an extra period of English. 7th is a trimester of each of the following: Reading/Writing, Computers, and Health. Finally, 8th graders have the option to take a foreign language, which consists of either French or Spanish.

Music Department

Fairgrounds has a strong music department. The students meet every day to practice and learn, unless they decide to participate in both the chorus and the concert band, which results in alternating classes each day. The music department, headed by Mrs. Mary Pispitsos and Mr. Thomas Souza, has annually participated in the Great East Music Festival. This year the chorus and band have been very successful in the 2010-2011 year receiving three platinum awards (Grade 7 choir, Grade 8 choir and the combined grade 7 and 8 band) and a gold award for jazz band. The music department consist of other activities such as select choir, jazz band, drumline, marching band and Tri-M Chapter 5847. Mrs. Pispitsos and Mr. Souza in addition to chorus and band, respectively, also teach keyboarding and guitar (8th grade only) and 6th and 7th general music.

MATHCOUNTS

Fairgrounds Middle School has had outstanding achievements in the MATHCOUNTS math competition, MATHCOUNTS. In 2008, Fairgrounds Middle School placed first in the chapter competition and first in the state competition. In the state level, Fairgrounds students placed 2nd and 7th, and sent a student to the National Competition. In the 2010-2011 school year, Fairgrounds placed #1 in the state.

Outreach Programs

The school divides the students into three categories by the grades from elementary school. These are honors, for the above average students, extensions, for the average students, and foundations, for students below average. The school has tutorial periods for students who need help with homework. During school hours they also have programs for students who are still learning English. Aids are offered for students who are disabled physically or mentally. They have after-school help sessions at least once a week. Anyone is welcome to these. They have all sorts of activities from journalism to building. They also have an accelerated math class for those students gifted in math. The math course is a year ahead of where the student of that age usually is.