Hamilton Middle School

The mission of Hamilton Middle School is to empower the individual to reach beyond his or her circumstances and encourage a love for learning through high expectations and respect, while connecting with students in a nonjudgmental and safe environment.

• All students will read effectively by identifying details, making inferences, determining central ideas and using other comprehension strategies.
• All students will increase their skills through written communication.
• All students will show improvement in computing, problem solving and other mathematical concepts related to problem solving and computation.

School Safety is of great interest and concern to educators, parents, students and the community. The School Resource Officer, along with the school faculty, staff and parents work together to make Hamilton Middle School a safe environment to learn and be productive. We encourage parents to contact the school anytime they have problems and/or concerns.

Hamilton has a very active Site Council that is comprised of parents, community members, business representatives, teachers and other school staff. Site councils identify, consider and discuss educational problems and issues at the school. Councils also provide advice and counsel for evaluating state, school district and site performance goals and objectives.

Meeting Day: Second Tuesday of each month
Time: 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Location: Hamilton Library


Dates to Remember

• Reading programs: Ramp Up Literacy, Reading Renaissance, Read 180, Read All About It, Extreme Reading, Advanced Skills L.A.
• Math programs:  Ramp Up to Mathmatics, Math in the Middle, and Ramp Up to Pre-Algebra, Algebra
• Autistic Program:  The categorical autism program at Hamilton Middle School is based on the structured teaching model and is designed primarily for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students with autism who are in need of a functional curriculum. In an effort to support the development of independent functional skills, Hamilton staff members and the student body have welcomed students with autism into inclusive classroom settings for instruction in Computers, Band, Art, AR, Science, PE and Math. Program goals for teaching socialization skills and fostering positive peer relationships have been met through a highly successful peer-mentoring program between the students with autism and Leadership students. Hamilton Middle School is a great place for students with autism to continue to develop the skills necessary for becoming life-long learners!
• ESOL Program:  The ESOL program at Hamilton started in the 2005-06 school year. By opening an ESOL program at Hamilton, many of our English Language Learners (ELLs) are now able to go to their neighborhood school without being bussed to another location for services. We continue to do staff development with teachers and work hard to include all our families in the many wonderful programs at Hamilton.
• AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program is an essential part of the curriculum in the 2007-08 school year. AVID is an in-school academic support program for grades 5-12 that prepares students for college eligibility and success. It places academically average students in advanced classes. AVID levels in the playing field for minority, rural, low-income and other students without a college-going tradition in their families. AVID is for all students, but it targets those in the academic middle. AVID is implemented schoolwide and districtwide. AVID isn't a remedial program, a free ride, a niche program, and AVID isn't a college outreach program.
• Student Coaching Program: In 2007-08 we started offering a program new to middle schools called "Student Coaching". The program is designed for highly responsible and respectful students to be assigned to a particular core classroom where they would serve as an academic coach to students. These "student coaches" are not proctors (grade papers, make copies, etc) but actually work with students to help them succeed. They receive weekly training by a teacher who educates them on coaching techniques, classroom etiquette, and tutoring skills. Student coaches will be 8th grade students and will be graded based on their work as a "coach".
• Support Staff: At Hamilton we have Support Staff that can help students improve their behavior, academics, and attendance and provide parents with resources and volunteer opportunities. Our programs include Communities In Schools (CIS), Campus Connections, Truancy Program and Parent Involvement.
• Communities In Schools (CIS) program is to facilitate the connection of needed community resources with schools to help young people successfully learn, stay in school and prepare for life. In addition to providing services for the family and increasing parental involvement, CIS offers student tutoring, mentoring, individual/group counseling and health services. It serves as a neutral bridge between the school system and community resources.
• Campus Connection has joined Hamilton to provide professional support for students with counseling needs. They also provide family support during crisis times. The billing procedure is structured so there is minimal cost to the individual, which makes their services especially helpful for students needing temporary support with personal or family problems.
• Truancy Program is to provide a community response to the issues of truancy at Hamilton Middle School. Truancy is the first indicator that a young person is giving up and losing his or her way. The program’s goal is to promote increased school attendance, academic achievement and parent/teacher involvement. If a student is truant or shows the possibility of truancy, the Hamilton Middle School, Registrar/Attendance Clerk, Truancy Coordinators, School Resource Officer, and School Nurse are all available to facilitate action.
• Parent Involvement Program promotes active parent involvement in all school functions. Parents are welcome and encouraged to become more involved with their student at school. Many activities are planned to include parents through Parent Leadership Organizations, mentoring/tutoring, teacher/staff helpers and other volunteer opportunities. Math and Reading Workshops are held throughout the school year.
• After School Program: Tutoring programs are in partnership with the YMCA. The program is for grades, 6, 7, and 8. ASP runs Thursday from 3:20-5:00. Students can sign up at enrollment or call anytime during the school year at 973-5350.
• Strong Family Ties Initiative (SFTI): SFTI is a program that offers life skills and educational mentoring on campus during lunch to youth who have a parent or loved one who is or has been incarcerated.
• JROTC Leadership Program:  All 6th graders are required to take this leadership class. This class emphasizes virtues and helps students with organization, discipline, leadership, respect and community service. This is not a recruitment class for the armed service. 

• Student Council
• National Academic League (NAL)
• JROTC Leadership
• Annual Spotlight Assembly
• Principal’s Honor Awards
• Extraordinary Exploratory Awards
• Lunch with a Teacher
• Band/Orchestra
• Vocal Music
• Athletics

Hamilton Middle School Standardized Dress Code Policy 

Pants or shorts:  Tan or navy blue colors only.  Absolutely no jean or sweat pant material allowed.  Pant legs may not be rolled up.  Cut-off pants are not allowed.  Belts must be worn in all pants/shorts that have belt loops.

Skirts, jumpers, and shorts:  For girls: skirts, jumpers and shorts must have a hemline that is no shorter than the length of the student’s fingertips when arms are placed down by the side.  No slits allowed. 

Shirts:  Collared white or navy blue shirts.   The only exception is for Hamilton shirts that have been approved by administration.  Shirts must be tucked in at all times (not folded).

Sweatshirts:  Sweatshirts must be blue or white with no patches or emblems on them.  Absolutely no hooded sweatshirts, jackets, short jackets, shirts/sweaters with hoods are allowed (even if they match the outfit). 

Sagging:  Pants need to fit appropriately.  Sagging will not be tolerated. 

Accessories: Only one item with additional color may be worn anywhere. For example: students will not be allowed to wear several different colored gel bracelets at one time.

Belts: Belts must be worn in all pants/shorts that have belt loops. Belts must be worn in all belt loops. Belts may nothing below the waist. Belts can be any SOLID color. They can not have any writing on them big  buckles, or lights of any kind on the belt or buckle. No chains of any kind.

Body Markings: Students will not be allowed to write or mark on their body and/or clothing.

Hair Color: No other colors of the spectrum except brown, black, auburn or blonde. Hair color and styles should not cause distractions to instruction in the classroom.

Hair Wear: No athletic headbands, no hairnets, and no hats.

Piercings: Students with pierced ears may wear earrings only. Spacers, safety pins and other foreign objects are not acceptable. Piercings should not be in any other place besides the ears. No clear studs or rings allowed. Appropriateness of piercing will be up to the Hamilton administration.

Shoestrings: Must be the same for each shoe and match the shoes.

Undershirts: If a student chooses to wear an undershirt, it must be plain or white or navy.

Alexander Hamilton School was built during 1918-1919 and was completed in time for the fall opening of school in September 1919. Named for the first United States secretary of the treasury, Alexander Hamilton Intermediate School was dedicated on January 16, 1920. Governor Henry J. Allen, a resident of Wichita, made the dedicatory address. Architect for the new building was Lorenz Schmidt and the builders were L.W. Brown and Company. Much later in its history the name of the school was changed to Alexander Hamilton Junior High School and in 1989 to Alexander Hamilton Middle School in line with a policy change of the Wichita Board of Education.

Many physical changes have been made in the building and grounds. In the beginning, the north half of the city block bounded by Zimmerly, Boston, Market and Broadway was purchased for the school. As property became available, more ground was acquired until the present campus includes 3.65 acres, and the entire city block between the four streets is school property with one small exception.

Three additions have been added to the original building, one in 1928, one in 1951 and as part of the bond project in 2000 Hamilton received a new addition that has an auditorium, several new classrooms, and a music and band room. At the time the second addition was made, four more rooms were included through inside remodeling. Eight portable classrooms were placed on the grounds in the late 60s and early 70s. The rest of the rooms were completely renovated in 1972 and the school offices in 1973. In 1976 the cafeteria and halls were remodeled and the library and study hall were converted into a five-room media center.

Mrs. Helen Eckstein was the first principal of Hamilton, staffed with a faculty of 19 teachers. During its first 50 years it had only four principals. Enrollment has fluctuated with the changes in the community. The largest enrollment, centering around 1,100, came just before Mead Junior High was opened. This taxed Hamilton well beyond normal capacity. Enrollment in the 1990s averages approximately 500.

During the school year of 1969-1970, Hamilton School celebrated 50 years of service to the community. Throughout the year, the PTA planned and carried out five birthday parties in place of their regular meetings. Alumni of the school were sent special invitations to attend the celebration for the decade in which they graduated. Attending the first ten-year party were nine teachers who taught at Hamilton during those years and seven members of the first graduating class. Every party was well attended, and it was discovered that many of Wichita's leading citizens were graduates of Hamilton. Guiding light of the year's celebration was Mrs. Bess Rose Kendrick who taught mathematics at Hamilton from 1922-1960 and who helped track down many graduates and make contacts.

Parents of the Kellogg Traditional School petitioned the Board of Education to establish a traditional junior high for their children to continue with the program after elementary school. Beginning the 1981-82 year, Hamilton was renamed the Hamilton Traditional Alternative Junior High School and remained as such until 1988 when all junior high schools became middle schools.

From A History of Wichita Public School Buildings, c 1997