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Wells Alternative Middle School provides sixth, seventh and eighth grade students a small, safe, and supportive learning community. The educational program is highly structured and individually based with a high staff to student ratio. It is designed to meet the unique needs of students who require a more supportive learning environment. Teachers provide individualized, differentiated instruction based on district and state standards. Positive Behavior Supports, Functional Behavior Assessments, and Behavior Intervention Plans may be used to assist students in learning practical functioning skills in order to become more independent learners. Additional emphasis is placed on teaching learning skills that impact school performance and students' abilities to function as independent learners. These skills are referred to as executive functioning skills and include the following general components: organization, working memory and recall, activation and effort (getting started, paying attention, and finishing work), controlling emotions, internalizing language, and taking an issue apart, analyzing the pieces, reconstructing and organizing it into new ideas. Top
Achievement Highlights
A cooperative venture with the Wichita Guidance Center allows students to receive counseling from the Guidance Center at Wells. Wells uses a computerized student database that allows the staff to report to parents on a weekly basis regarding student academic and behavioral progress. Top
Directions
Exit I-135 at Hydraulic. Go north on Hydraulic to Fortuna. Go west on Fortuna to Pattie. Go south on Pattie to Wells. See Maps for all USD 259 locations Top
Mission
The mission of Wells Alternative Middle School is that all students can achieve identified educational, social, emotional, and behavioral skills based on individual student needs.
Vision Statement
The vision of this program is to serve students in a supportive learning environment and to assist them in being successful in school and in the community.
Family Support
Family support is provided through daily home/school communication and frequent reports/meetings regarding student academic and behavioral progress. Through a program called Campus connections, outside agencies such as Comcare, Mental Health Association, and Behavioral Link provide additional family support.
Additional Support
The Child Study Team provides additional support to students, parents, and school staff. Students work through difficult situations with the aid of classroom staff, members of the Child Study Team (including a full-time nurse), and Security. All staff are trained in understanding and meeting individual students needs. Top
Campus Improvement Program
BEHAVIOR – All students will develop the social, emotional, and behavioral competencies essential for success in the least restrictive educational setting.
WRITTEN LANGUAGE – All students will develop effective oral and written communication skills.
READING – All students will improve abilities in reading comprehension.
MATHEMATICS – All students will increase abilities in basic math computation and problem solving skills. Top
Site Council Information
Each school has a site council, which is a group 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 provide advice and counsel for evaluating state, school district and school site performance goals and objectives. Councils may also recommend methods that may be employed at the school site to meet these goals and objectives.
Meeting Day: First Thursday of each month
Time: 6:00
Location: Wells Conference Room Top
Programs
Wells is a Special Education facility that is operated exclusively for special education students who experience significant behavioral challenges. Students are identified by their base schools through a comprehensive evaluation; placement is made through an Individual Education Plan with consent of parent(s) or guardian(s). Top
Student Activities
Besides the core subjects of language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, students have the opportunity to participate in physical education and technology classes. Physical education classes include individually designed physical fitness programs and therapeutic games and exercise. Some students who show a special interest in technology become part of the Student Technology Leadership Team. Wells Alternative Middle School also has a JROTC Leadership Team that participates in city-wide events and competitions that include other middle school teams. Top
School History
On January 23, 1956, the Wichita Board of Education approved drawings and specifications presented by Robert S. Mayberry, architect, for a new elementary school to be constructed at 3601 South Pattie. The new building was needed as new houses were rapidly being built in the area south of Wilson School. Construction began on February 16, 1956, and the building was completed on September 18, 1956.
The Board of Education chose to name the new building in honor of Bert C. Wells who was City Manager of Wichita from 1927 until 1939. Mr. Wells was born in Sheridan, Indiana on July 19, 1880, of Quaker heritage and came to Wichita as a young man to attend Friends University. After graduating from Friends in 1903, he received a scholarship to attend Haverford College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1904. He married Sara Shoemaker the same year and taught in Oakwood School in New York and Corinth Academy in Virginia before returning to Wichita where he taught in the high school two years. Mr. Wells held public positions in several Kansas cities before becoming City Manager of Wichita. He was known by friends as ever the same - a quiet, self-contained, industrious and honest man.
When Wells Elementary School was organized, the enrollment was expected to rapidly increase. However, due to a recession in building shortly after, some of the land was not developed. Thus, to increase the enrollment of Wells in 1964 a change in the boundary was made to allow additional children to attend Wells from the Wilson district, and in 1968 children were bused from Mueller Elementary School to Wells.
Wells was closed as an elementary school at the close of the 1985-86 school year due to declining enrollment and students sent to the newly renovated Anderson School, formerly Wilson Elementary. In 1986-87, Wells was designated an alternative special education center for students in grades 1-12. Beginning the 1990-91 school year, high school students were moved to Sowers Alternative High School, and Wells became an alternative school for both regular and special education students in grades 1-8. In 1994, Wells became an alternative special education center for middle school students, and students in grades 1-5 were moved to Grieffenstein Special Education Center.
From A History of Wichita Public School Buildings, c 1997
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