Encouraging students to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens.
Orange Grove Middle School
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Respect Responsibility Kindness
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Orange Grove Middle School (OGMS) is a Catalina Foothills School District middle school (grades 6-8) established in 1974, located in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains, on the northern edge of Tucson, Arizona. OGMS is committed to fostering academic and personal excellence while working to create an environment wherein we all act responsibly, respectfully, and are kind to others.
OGMS is a closed campus with twelve buildings situated on 26 acres in a desert setting. The campus includes a state-of-the-art library, a media lab, a computer lab, five science labs, two art studios with a kiln, a band and choir facility, a weight room, athletic fields, tennis courts, running track, a cross country trail, and a cafeteria that has outside seating options. Our multi-purpose room includes a sports court for a variety of athletic events and a stage for choral, band and other student performances.
Our staff engages students in meaningful curriculum that meets the highest educational and ethical standards within the learning community. During a student’s time at OGMS, we prepare them for a smooth transition to high school. In addition to a rigorous core curriculum, students have a daily elective (choosing from band, choir, and art) and PE & Health. Through teaching the deep learning proficiencies of citizenship, creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration and systems thinking, students are ready for the move into high school, college and ultimately their career pathways.
--Susan Rosenthal, Principal
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Introducing Our Next Principal,
Mark Rubin-Toles
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Effective July 1, Mark Rubin-Toles will become Orange Grove Middle School’s next principal. He follows Principal Susan Rosenthal who is retiring at the close of this school year.
“Mr. Rubin-Toles is a teaching and learning expert with passion for our Envision21: Deep Learning strategic commitment to prepare CFSD students well for their lives after high school graduation,” says Dr. Mary Kamerzell, CFSD Superintendent.
Mr. Rubin-Toles is currently the Curriculum Technology Integrator (CTI) at Catalina Foothills High School, a position he has held for the past seven years. In that position, he designs and conducts professional development for teachers in technology integration -- for the whole staff, small groups, or individuals. He works with teachers to plan and implement lessons that integrate technology and 21st century skills, often modeling the lessons first.
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Mr. Rubin-Toles has been a distinguished educator in CFSD for many years. Prior to serving as CTI, he taught English and Humanities at the high school for ten years, part of that time serving as English department co-chair. During his years in CFSD, he has been a catalyst of numerous initiatives to think about education in new ways. His contributions are many, including: improving student writing achievement, collaborating on the creation of vibrant and immersive curricula, creating teacher induction and development programs, and reexamining high school grading practices.
Mr. Rubin-Toles earned his B.A. from Yale University, summa cum laude, with a distinction in fine arts. He went on to receive two master’s degrees, one in fine arts from the University of Illinois and one in educational leadership from the University of Texas.
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A highly qualified teaching staff
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Our staff includes 3 National Board Certified Teachers, 2 CFSD Teachers of the Year, 4 CFSD Distinguished Educators, and more.
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Effective student support structures
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Our support programs like Panther Den and Zeros Aren't Permitted (ZAP) help every student perform to their best ability.
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Extensive visual and performing arts
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To educate the whole child, we offer band, choir, jazz band and after school musical productions, with a strings program coming in 2018.
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Student leadership opportunities
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Our innovative leadership opportunities include Student Led Conferences (SLC), Student Action Committee, morning announcement reporters and peer tutors.
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Strong partnerships with parents
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Our network of dedicated parent volunteers works with school administrators, faculty and students to provide quality experiences and activities. They are a key ingredient in solidifying the relationship between home and school in an effort to provide a quality middle school education for our students.
Visit our Website
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Student Support Structures
Academic Assistance
Late Start Wednesdays (8:55-9:20) provide a direct opportunity for our teachers to meet with struggling students, and students who have missing assignments or who need to make up an exam.
Panther Den
The Den is a place where students can go during lunch to get academic support from an adult, a peer tutor or just a friend. It is also a place for students to hang out who want a quieter lunchtime environment.
Saturday School
This opportunity is designed to support students who are not passing a class prior to the end of a quarter. Staff and peer tutors come in on a Saturday to help students catch up on missing work or support students who seem to be falling behind.
Student Support Program
This helps struggling 6th graders acclimate to the demands of middle school by supporting good study habits, a growth mindset, and time management.
Zeros Aren’t Permitted (“ZAP”)
The focus of this program is on-time work completion by all OGMS students. The purpose of ZAP is to prevent students from having zeros and to support practice and mastery of essential academic skills when a student has fallen behind. This program supports and builds strong academic and work ethic skills among our students.
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Teacher Achievement
The OGMS teaching staff includes:
- 3 National Board Certified Teachers
- 2 CFSD Teachers of the Year
- 4 CFSD Distinguished Educators
- 1 Tucson Values Teachers Award for Excellence in Education
- 1 State Finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (2016)
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About Catalina Foothills School District
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ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SCHOOL
DISTRICT GRADE:
A
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HIGHEST AzMERIT SCORES
OF ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS
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RANKED #1
PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IN ARIZONA BY NICHE
IN 2017
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Orange Grove Middle School
1911 E. Orange Grove Road | Tucson, AZ 85718 | Phone 520-209-8200 | Fax 520-209-8275
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