Windham-Raymond Middle School

K-12 Education:
Primary & Intermediate Schools

The client’s goal is to build a consolidated middle school based on their educational visioning. They envision grades 5-8 from both Raymond and Windham to come together within a comprehensive team environment. Teams include traditional subject areas like math, science, social studies, and English language arts, but also integrate special education and interventionists. This allows those educators to get to know students well and build strong relationships with each student. World languages, STEM, and art are also integrated into teams using a trimester schedule and a building organization that allows students full immersion within each of those subjects. This encourages stronger bonds between those teachers and the students on each team. To strengthen the team experience, common planning periods are scheduled for all teams, while students receive off-team instruction in music, health, and physical education. Project-based learning opportunities are expanded within the team approach with the integration of STEM and art into students daily lives and increased collaboration between multiple subject areas.

The building allows for various-sized meetings through the integration of common areas at every level. Team common areas are assigned per team and sized appropriately to enhance smaller group learning. Learning Commons are assigned and sized to accommodate the entire grade level. The open agora stair is sized to work for an entire grade level, and a full auditorium is sized for use by approximately half of the student body. The gym and bleachers are designed to accommodate full school assemblies. With every area being treated as a learning area, the square footage is almost entirely dedicated to education (less than 10% of the building is dedicated to egress/travel ways).