Welcome to Daniell Middle School New Student Survival Guide

Transcription

1 Welcome to Daniell Middle School New Student Survival Guide Mr. David Nelson, Principal Inside this issue: Changing Classes 2 Connection Classes 2 Grades & Homework 3 Lockers & Lunch 3 Student Forum 3 PTSA, Dress Code 4 Transportation 4 Middle School Vocabulary 5 We are delighted to welcome you to Daniell Middle School! This guide will answer some of the questions that you may have regarding sixth grade and Daniell Middle School. Our principal is Mr. David Nelson. He is beginning his 9th year at Daniell Middle School. During his time with us, Daniell has become one of the highest performing, most diverse middle schools in Cobb County. Most recently, our school has been ranked in the top 10% of all middle schools in Georgia. Daniell also has four assistant principals: Ms. Anthony: 6th Grade Ms. Parrinello: 7th Grade Ms. Stump: 8th Grade Ms. Williams: Special Student Services Counseling: These services are handled through Ms. Pope (Last Names A-K) and Ms. McAfee (Last Names L-Z). Counselors conduct special classroom activities, small groups, and are available to help you when you have important questions or problems. About Homeroom: Each student will have a homeroom teacher. If you are not eating breakfast you will go to straight to homeroom. If you are eating breakfast go directly to breakfast from the bus and before homeroom. Students will be expected to use the time in homeroom to organize and prepare for the day

2 Page 2 Welcome to Daniell Middle School Changing Classes One thing that makes middle school different from your elementary school is that you will change classes. You will have five academic classes including math, language arts, science, social studies, and research & inquiry. At the end of the class, your teacher will dismiss you to go to your next class. Remember that you must have a pass from your teacher to use the bathroom or to be in the hallway during instructional time. Please refer to the bell schedule for class times on various days of the week. You will take a different connections class each semester. Students who take band, chorus or orchestra will do so all year and will have one other connections class every semester. Most students have a Physical Education (PE) class for one connections period each day. You will have approximately five minutes to change into your PE clothes before class and five minutes to change back into your school clothes at the end of class. Art: Students learn to draw, sculpt, paint, and make pottery. Music: Students sing, learn about the history of music genres, and give classroom performances. Health (combined with PE): Students will be in health for one semester each year. Students learn about healthy life habits, nutrition, and avoiding risky behaviors. Connection Classes Technology: This class is an extension of science and math and encourages problem solving through hands on instruction on one of 16 different modules. The modules are: Bio- Technology and Genetics, Robotics, Graphic Design, Mechanical Systems, Digital Manufacturing, Research and Design, Electronics, Computer Aided Design,, Photography, DVD Production Computer Animation, Flight Simulator, and Digital Audio and many more. Family and Consumer Science (FACS): This class prepares students for careers in the business related aspects of family and consumer sciences. It provides opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors that students need to become responsible citizens and leaders; and to manage the challenges of living and working in a diverse global society. Connections continued... Band: If you are in band, you get to play a musical instrument. You do not have to know anything about your instrument when you begin. The band director will teach you how to put your chosen instrument together and how to play it. Those in band will also participate in several concerts during the year. Orchestra: Orchestra is available for students who want to play the violin, viola, cello, or bass. The orchestra teacher will also teach you how to play the in- strument. Orchestra students also play in several concerts during the year. Chorus: Chorus is available to help students develop their singing skills. Chorus also has concerts and musicals throughout the year.

3 Page 3 Grades Your grades will be taken from your daily class work, homework, quizzes, tests, and any special projects. Numerical grades are used on the report card. The current grading scale is: A = B = C = D = F = 60 & Below If a student is having difficulty in a class, it is important for the student to seek help from the classroom teacher. Please use the teacher blogs and write assignments in your agenda for assistance. Most teachers have help sessions before tests and at other times when a student indicates that help is needed. These sessions are before or after school. Check with your teacher. Lockers and Breakfast and Lunch When you come to sixth grade, you will be assigned two lockers. One locker will be near your academic classes. You will use it to store your textbooks, notebooks and book bag during the school day. You are not allowed to carry a backpack with you throughout the Student Forum and Student Clubs Student Forum allows you to be involved with many interesting projects to improve our school. You assist with dances and keep your class informed of important events. You are elected to Student Forum. You day. It must stay in your locker. The other locker will be in the gym and it will store your PE clothes. It is a good idea to begin practicing how to use a combination lock (Masterlock). If you have trouble, your teachers will be able to help you. will campaign and try to get votes within your grade. Daniell has many kinds of clubs that meet before and after school. Some of the clubs include: Lego Robotics, Girls on Track, Gaming Club, Sorella/Girl Talk, Daniell serves both breakfast and lunch. Breakfast costs $1.25. Lunch costs $2.30(If applicable, reduced prices available). Snacks and extras are also available for purchase. Students may also bring their lunch from home. National Junior Honors Society, Science Club, Step Team and Garden Club. Each of the clubs do activities and service projects throughout the school year. If you don t find one you like, you can start a new one!

4 Page 4 Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) Parents and students are encouraged to join the PTSA. PTSA parents and students are also able to join any of the PTSA. The PTSA parents and teachers work together to help supply Daniell with students needs. They also host many special events throughout the year. Do not miss this opportunity to get involved in your school. Join PTSA! Agendas Students will receive an agenda on the first day of school. Students must carry their agenda with them throughout the day. The agenda is used for recording assignments and as a hall pass. Important information may be communicated via the agenda. It is also a wonderful means to stay abreast of the instructional requirements for your student. The Daniell Code of Conduct is also found in the student agenda. Should you lose your agenda, the cost is $10 to replace it. Attendance notes must be written on a separate piece of paper and are not to be included in the agenda. Daniell DRESS CODE Welcome to Daniell Middle School In keeping with our desire to promote self-esteem and self-respect, students are to come to school dressed in appropriate, neat and clean outfits that are not disruptive, distracting or in violation of the dress code. Students will be required to adhere to the following dress code: *Pants must fit above the hips and be no longer than the bottom of the shoe. *Capri pants that extend below the knee are acceptable. *Knee length shorts are allowed. *Necklines of shirts/blouses/jerseys must not be low cut or revealing. *Skirt/dress length must come no higher than 2 inches above the knee even when worn with leggings. *Shirts/blouses/jerseys must not be see-through or reveal the midriff. *Shoes must be worn at all times. No bedroom slippers. Prohibited items (Inclusive, but not limited to the following) *Caps, hats, bandannas, or other head coverings. *Clothing or ornaments displaying substances illegal for minors. *Clothing or ornaments displaying suggestive phrases, designs, or profanity. *Wallet chains *Spandex/bicycle pants/leggings without proper outer garment *Sunglasses in the building *Writing/printing/drawing on face, arms, or any other parts of the body. *Paint, ink from markers, crayons, colored hair, etc. applied to hair at school. *Tank tops/halter tops and strapless garments are prohibited. *No undergarments are to show at any time. The school reserves the right to make judgments in individual situations. Clothing which, in the judgment of the school, calls undue attention to an individual or interferes with the educational program may not be worn to school. Students who violate the policy will be required to change clothes or will sit in ISS until clothing can be brought to them.. Bus Transportation Students have a lot of questions about where their buses are in the afternoon. Any bus changes will be made by an administrator during our afternoon announcements as we dismiss students to go to the buses. Appropriate behavior is required at all times on the bus. Always listen closely to the announcements. Your bus will always be in the same Bus Lane, but not always in the same order. There are two buses in each Lane. Riding a different bus is ONLY permitted if it is for childcare purposes or an emergency situation. Should this be the case, you will need to have written parent permission and bring it to the front office. An administrator must approve ALL bus changes. The Learning Commons (Media Center) is a wonderful place to read, research, or check out books. You can check out 10 books at a time. You must have a pass to enter the media center. Our Media Specialist, Ms. Harris, and our Media Para Professional, Ms. Bugbee, are eager to help you find a book or information on a topic.

5 Page 5 Middle School Vocabulary Academic Classes: Middle School students take language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and research and inquiry. Agenda: Students will receive an agenda to use for recording homework, class work and long-term assignments. The agenda includes other important information such as school rules and Cobb County Code of Conduct for students. You will also use your agenda for hall passes. Students carry their agendas everywhere they go in the building. Attendance: Middle School students attendance is done on a period basis. The student is counted absent for each class period they do not attend. Band/Orchestra/Chorus: An instrumental music class offered through the connections program for interested students at all grade levels. All sixth grade students have the opportunity to attend a band, orchestra, and chorus orientation during the first two weeks of school and have the opportunity to make a decision regarding these programs. Connections Classes: Connections classes include art, technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, Music, and PE/health. Sixth grade students usually take a different connections class every semester. Band, orchestra, and chorus students will have one connections period of band, orchestra, or orchestra and the second connections period these students will have the opportunity to have one of the listed connections classes. Homework: The middle school student has homework three to five nights per week. Homework is practice for knowledge. Reviewing notes, reading a chapter in the text, book reports, projects, and other types of written work are examples of homework a middle school student might expect. Sixth grade students should plan on approximately minutes of homework per subject (1-2 hours of homework per night). Accelerated (AC) classes may require additional homework. Homework grades are included in the student s academic average, and may count as much as 10% of the total academic average. Intramurals: Sports activities, are offered before school by the Physical Education Department beginning at 8 am. Middle schools do not sponsor or participate in any competitive sports activities. These activities are sponsored through the community and Sprayberry High School s Junior Jackets program. Make up Work: Parents may request make-up work for their students when they have been absent for three days. Please keep in mind that we must give the teacher 24 hours notice. You may call the front office staff ( ) on the third absence date and request the work. The work will be ready the next day (24 hours after you call) in the front office. Another good resource for assignments is the teachers blog or your teachers for make up work. Report Cards: Cobb County Middle Schools operate on a semester system. Each semester is 18 weeks long. Progress reports are issued every 6 weeks and report cards are issued every 18 weeks. Semester report cards determine honor roll, promotion, and retention. Concerns about grades should be directed to your child s teachers or counselor. Cell Phones: Students are allowed to bring their cell phones to school. However, once they are at school cell phones should be turned off and left in their locker, unless your class is using BYOD (bring your own device) in class.