On December 7, 2004, several administrators from Albany School District, Albany, Oregon, visited Kelly Middle Schools to view the new programs being implemented. They were interested in seeing a schedule which allows 7th and 8th grade students to travel in a group between a Language Arts/Social Studies teacher, and a Science/Math teacher. Students stay with the same core teachers for two years (called "looping"), and often stay in the same small study and project groups. The goal is to increase the positive bonding of students to school, increase their engagement in learning, and increase their overall academic achievement.

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Principal Tim Roccholz and Assistant Principal Brooke Wagner meet with visiting Albany administrators.	Tim reviews the planning process the staff used to come up with the current plan.	Kay Mehas, Director of Education and Wallace Grant Director, joins in the visit debriefing.
Two of the 7th grade teams meets with visitors to discuss program implementation.	Casey Tiemann explains the student flow and common staff preparation times.	The bondiing effects on students and staff are remarkable.
Two of the da Vinci Alternative School 7th grade team members discuss their perception of the program.	Then the principal joins them to continue the tour.	Kelly Assistant Principal explains how the schedule rotation works.
Part of the enrichment rotation include either a class of Spanish (shown here), or a class in Japanese language.	Common student behavior expectations are graphically displayed in the halls.	One of the PE teachers explains how the climbing wall (purchased through student fund raisisng and communty donations) is part of the physical education enrichment.
Student group work is key to the new program.	Students have made colorful banners for their study/project teams, including their expectations and commitments for themselves.	Here two members of a team work on internet research in the Media Center.