Photo courtesy of Hamilton's website.
There are two people important in the average middle-schoolers life: themselves and that awkward crush. Oozing with pubescent hormones, the halls of any middle school is less a representation of academia and more an adequate example of mating rituals. The only thing missing is flocking of the feathers and loud screeching noises. Oh wait, middle schoolers screech.
Granted it is hard to miss these characteristics in any middle school. When it comes down to it, at the age of 12, 13, 14 hormonal juices are bubbling and the center of the world tends to be skewed. However, Wallingford is host to Seattle Public Schools only International Middle School. An international school you may ask? So, there are students from around the world coming to study in Seattle at a middle school? Not quite. But it is an international school---they must have foreign students from France, Ghana, Spain on a cultural exchange. Nope.
Hamilton International School is a public school hosting normal Seattle students---students who otherwise could have gone to any other public middle school in the district. Although unlike its sister middle schools Meany or Washington, Hamilton provides an education centered around an increasingly shrinking world. This is to say that the global village is now more prevalent than ever.
Hamilton states that its primary mission is to “provide rigorous academic curricula to prepare students for a diverse and technological society so that students will contribute to and succeed in the larger global community.”
The global community is a running theme at this middle school. The core curriculum serves to establish the instruction of a global perspective. According to the Hamilton website, there are three areas of larger focus---global challenges, culture and world areas and global connections (how the United States fits in the larger global community.)
A strong emphasis is also placed on learning global languages. It is required that every student take a language course. Hamilton currently offers Spanish and Japanese--two courses that also include immersion trips in the Fall.
Sound different than your middle school experience? Usually middle school harkens memories of field trips to the science center not Japan. At least for me.
Hamilton serves a diverse student population. According to Seattle Public schools, two-thirds of student are of color. To break this down further, 34% of are Asian descent, 21% African and African American, and roughly 10% Latino.
Not only is Hamilton an international school in respects to education--there is also international education within walls in the hearts and souls of its students.
The school building has been named a Seattle city historic landmark by the Seattle Historic Preservation Program--something that has put Hamilton at the center of a neighborhood controversy. There are plans to build a new gymnasium in the playground area of the school much to the dismay of several community members.
Built approximately 80 years ago the school is need of renovation and the district has finally gotten to it.
There has been a battle waging for years over the construction of the gymnasium and the blocking of views, architecture, a renovated park and more. It is a long story that still does not have a conclusion. Construction begins in July but not if strong-headed residents have their way. They have already submitted yet another proposal for the halting of construction.
To look at the renovation and gymnasium construction plan, click here! What do you think of the gym design? Does it fit in with the historic building?
The following is a picture of the proposed finish product (gymnasium). This is looking to the South. Adjacent to the North Side of the school is Wallingford Playfield---a beloved park in the neighborhood one that some residents are willing to fight for.
Hamilton also has an incredibly active PTSA with a blog. Who ever said blogs weren't the new thing? Even the parents are doing it. Check it out here.
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