Arvida, Quebec

Arvida is a settlement of 12,000 people (2010) in Quebec, Canada, that is part of the City of Saguenay. Its name is derived from the name of its founder, Arthur Vining Davis, president of the Alcoa aluminum company (later Alcan).

Arvida was founded as an industrial city by Alcoa in 1927, when the first aluminum smelter was constructed. Located 240 kilometres (150 mi) north of Quebec City, south of the Saguenay River between Chicoutimi and Jonquière, the town was planned from the first day and was developed as a company town, to have a population of about 14,000 inhabitants, four Catholic parishes, and many other denominations, parishes and schools. It was known as "the City Built in 135 Days" and described by The New York Times as a "model town for working families" on "a North Canada steppe".

History

In 1912 James B. Duke purchased the rights to the power on the Saguenay River, and in 1925 the Isle Maligne power station near Lac St. Jean came on stream (then the world's largest). In 1926 more than 250 houses were completed and the first ingots were poured. In 1932 Chute-à-Caron power station near Kénogami came on stream. The Shipshaw power station, just below Chute-à-Caron, came on stream during World War II and the Saguenay Inn in Arvida was completed. In 1950 the Arvida Bridge, an arched aluminum bridge, was completed, spanning the old Saguenay gorge near the Shipshaw power house.

Middle school

A middle school (also known as intermediate school or junior high school) is a school for students older than elementary school, but not yet in high school. The ages covered varies between, and sometimes within, countries.

Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, middle school consists of grades 6, 7 and 8.

Algeria

In Algeria, a middle school includes grades 6 through 10, consisting of students from ages 10 or 11 to 15.

Australia

Most regions of Australia do not have middle schools, as students go directly from primary school (for years K–6) to secondary school (years 7–12, usually referred to as high school).

As an alternate to the middle school model, some secondary schools divided their grades into "junior high school" (years 7 to 8) and "senior high school" (years 9, 10, 11, and 12.)

In 1996 and 1997, a national conference met to develop what became known as the National Middle Schooling Project, which aimed to develop a common Australian view of

Arvida Middle School

Arvida Middle School is a Blue Ribbon middle school in Miami, Florida, USA, founded in 1975, that educates around 1,850 students in grades 6-8. Its principal since August 2006, is Nancy Aragon, promoted from Assistant Principal.

Academics

Arvida was recognized as a Blue Ribbon school in 1997-98, the highest award that can be given to a US school.

The school has been described as exemplifying "a progressive commitment to recapturing traditional excellence and incorporating innovative approaches into the educational process".

Arvida Middle School is a magnet school to which anyone in the district can apply. The application window begins in October and ends in January. Students must meet criteria in order to be accepted into either of the magnets offered, forensic science and fine arts and global studies.

The Global Academy, established in 2000-01, is an innovative academic program for all incoming 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. The program combines mandatory courses in mathematics, language arts, science, and geography. Coursework is cross-cutting and environmental in nature; it links and relates the subjects.