Haynes Bridge Middle School

This school is truly amazing if you are in on level classes. The teachers are great and don't give too much work. However, if you are in TAG or advanced classes, beware. The teachers are not as prepared and are not always able to keep the class under control and, at times, downright lazy. It appears as though the administration puts are many kids in the upper classes are possible, whether or not they are qualified. This means teachers are forced to slow lessons down, make them easier, and stop to explain to kids who honestly shouldn't be there. In my accelerated (a year ahead) math class, there were two girls who skipped ahead this year without catching up on the work they were supposed to and wasted hours of our class time over the year asking questions that they should already know the answer. The teacher and administration of course, did nothing. Sixth grade teachers are good, seventh grade decent, and eighth grade bad. Foreign language classes are usually overcrowded unless you take German. I enjoyed my time here overall, but this last year has been difficult due to lack of help from my teachers.

Great after school programs. Just 2 little tweaks, there are writings on the restroom walls, and subs tend to yell a lot. Overall, the teachers are GREAT at sticking to teaching. There IS Silent Lunch, ISS, OSS, and Detention.

I enjoy going to this school, they have good lunches. I do disagree with the teachers way of communicating with the students. Disipline is important, Im of aware of that fact. The teachers are the authority and we should respect them, I do. They disipline, their mehod of doing that is lacking. Teachers expect us to respect them when half of them dont respect us. That's where our "disrespectful attitiude" comes in. Everyday, I see teachers punishing students based on what they saw. Drawing conclusions w/o even knowing what happened. Sometimes, they are correct with their punishment. Most of the time they are not. Mr. Rifkin (8th grade) is a prime example of a teacher who DOES respect his students. In return, students respect him. Also, substitute teachers need better instructional guidlines. We are often faced w/ "busy work" when a sub is in. They usually yell at us, just for asking what they would call a 'stupid question".

My daughter just graduated after 3 years there. I thinks she's gotten good preparation for high school. It is very different from elementary in terms of my being at the school as a parent - those lunches with your kid are over! They push the kids to be responsible for themselves academically & there is comparatively less parental face time w/ teachers - perhaps a good thing. Usually when I asked for teacher communication I got it, but its not like what you get in elementary. Excellent counselors at Haynes Bridge - very responsive, caring, dedicated. Middle school appears to be just that - stuck in the middle; i.e. caught between the high monitoring of elementary school & the pre-college intensity of high school. New principal coming in Fall 2011.
—Submitted by a parent

It has talented teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

The school format is great and there are many options for students of most skills and interests. My disappointment is from the poor teacher communication in years 2006-2009. I cannot tell you how many times I gave my child a tongue lashing about a ParentConnect notice (email about missing assignments) to find out the teacher was not loading data in a timely manner. The few times I sent a note to the teachers, I got a response 'tell you Mom the info is not current' Had my son's end of period grade not reflected that as so, I would have not known what to expect. On another instance, I got a call from a teacher three week's before end of school to say the teacher was not going to sponsor my child for a higher class next semester for lack of effort, when I gotten NO communication before.
—Submitted by a parent

I have to disagree with the parent that says little is done to encourage parents to be involved except for the Eagle Edition. I was on the PTA board there for several years and we had numerous volunteer opportunities and we posted pleas for help on the website, the PTA website, the Eagle Edition, through flyers, posters and e-mails. Any parent who wants to be involved can be involved as much as as little as they like. The opportunities are there if you as a parent stay informed. I have had 3 children go through Haynes Bridge and all were well prepared for high school. I found Mrs. Reeves to be approachable and she told things straight up. Mrs. Boldus, a TAG teacher there was one of the best teachers my children ever had and they all learned from her.
—Submitted by a parent

I absolutley love hayne bridge middle school I mean they offer so many oppurtunities and the teachers are very much so helpful and to mrs Reeves, Mrs.Inn, Mrs.oxford you are the best thankyou so much im going to miss you
—Submitted by a student

This is an amazing school and is culturally diverse. Like the world we live in. I have two children there and I have never had one incident with Ms. Reeves. The teachers and councelors have always been supportive of my special needs child. I would highly reccommend this school!
—Submitted by a parent

Haynes Bridge is a pretty good school academically. They are not always fair to the Hispanic and Black students. The principal is rude and fake to students and parents.
—Submitted by a parent

From all of the talk that I heard about how this is such a good school, I am extremely disappointed. First off, I would like to say that the entire teaching facility does an amazing job. With my son coming from a Hillside, he had a very difficult time there, now he is on par with the rest of his class because of the help and excellent teaching the teachers do. Yet, as far as the rest of the school goes, I am very upset. The school is poorly maintained. Also, the school encourages students to become involved in clubs and activities, but little is done to encourage parents to become involved (besides a weekly 'eagle edition').
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter came from Northwood Elementary, which I absolutely did not like. HBMS was a breath of fresh air. I completely agree that Mrs. Reeves' speeches are demeaning to parents, but the school does not seem to suffer from it. My daughter is in the TAG program for all her academic subjects, and most of her teachers have been marvelous. I have actually found the school to be more welcoming to parents than the elementary, and her teachers have been wonderful at keeping in touch with me.
—Submitted by a parent

The curriculum is challenging and interesting to my son. They run a very strict code of conduct at the school to try to thwart bullying and misconduct. I think by the nature of middle school, matters do happen. There is no warm and fuzzy feeling walking into the school and this is completely different from elementary school. Ms. Reeves is a good administrator but her speeches at curriculum night are demeaning to parents and I've heard the same speech 2 years in a row. They have a 'no cell phones' policy yet do not allow students to use the office phone to call parents. The bldg is old but they have a new science wing that is wonderful and have many plans for improvements. They also have great clubs/activities for students.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter's 6th grade year at HBMS was disappointing. Most of the school is very dirty and poorly maintained. The exeption is the Eagle hall which is brightly painted and has pictures and plants. The rest (most) of the school is dingy, dirty, and depressing. Discipline is a big problem and bullying of all sorts is common. Response from the teachers/admin to bullying incidences is disappointing. ('unless we actually witness it, not much we can do') We experienced it personally and I commonly hear parents in my neighborhood relay bad incidents that recieved little response from Admin. My attempts to speak with a couple teachers re dropping grades (A's dropping to C's) were met with apathy ('she's passing... she's doing fine') These are the same teachers who show alot of movies instead of teaching. The one exception to this is Mr. Cassidy, a truly GREAT teacher.
—Submitted by a parent

Most of the students who go to Haynes Bridge come from Barnwell and Hillside Elementary where the principals are very responsive and involved. In the elementary schools parents are activily encouraged to come to the school. It is a rough transition for many because the principal does not encourage parental involvement and is not dynamic like the elementary principals. However, the teachers are fabulous and do a great job working with the students. Students generally enjoy their interactions with the teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

My children have had very positive experiences at HBMS. The Talented and Gifted Program is very challenging. The school encourages parental involvement. The students are taught the value of volunteering and giving to others by Jr Beta and Student Council programs.
—Submitted by a parent

My son had a very positive experience in his sixth grade year, and is looking forword to seventh grade. He transfered mid-year, and the counselor made all the differencre for him. She addressed all of his needs and he felt welcome at Haynes Bridge within three days, which I thought was amazing. I know from my two older sons that Haynes Bridge students faired very well at Centennial High, and I wish that my two older sons could have attended this school. They were zoned for another school and their experience was not nearly as positive.
—Submitted by a parent