Valley Middle School

Dear Parents, Students and Friends of Valley Middle School,

Welcome to Valley Middle School’s website!  I hope that you find this site to be an excellent resource about the school and the wonderful things happening here.

Valley Middle School has a long standing history of setting high personal standards for the students of Oakland.  We do so through a rigorous curriculum that helps to prepare students for the challenges of high school and beyond.  This rigor is balanced through the dedication and commitment of the teachers, who routinely differentiate and do what is necessary to ensure student success. 

Personal Mission Statement:

I believe that it is in the middle grades where students choose the path they will take towards adulthood and their future.  To this end, it is our responsibility as educators to help them choose wisely and to give them the tools that they need to be successful and become all that they can be!  It is our responsibilities as educators to help in bringing out the best version of each and every one of our students.  

“Chart Your Course”

The theme this year of “Chart Your Course” emphasizes the importance of students setting goals towards their future success.  This theme will be used throughout the year as we help to motivate and inspire students to choose a path and trajectory that leads them to success in high school and beyond.  A special change this year is that the eighth graders will be challenged to explore future professions and investigate what steps they need to take to become successful in their chosen field.  This will include real world experiences and interviews and culminate in a project night for the community that highlights their aspirations. 

Our Programs

The curriculum at Valley Middle School is student-centered, skill based, and aligned closely with the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards.  All students participate in the core subjects of mathematics, reading, English, social studies, world language and science.  Teachers in these core areas meet in teams to plan, monitor and evaluate the programs as well as develop support strategies for the students in their care.  In addition to the core subjects, academic experiences are enhanced through a series of special classes, club activities, and special programs intended to help students in becoming well-rounded 21st Century global citizens.

Sincerely,

Mr. Peter Hughes
Principal
Valley Middle School

“Our aspirations are our possibilities.” – Samuel Johnson