Welcome to Stonewall Jackson Middle School! Important Information for Rising 6th Graders and their Families

Transcription

1 Welcome to Stonewall Jackson Middle School! Important Information for Rising 6th Graders and their Families

2 Middle School Concept Addresses unique physical, emotional, social, and academic needs of adolescents Bridges elementary and high school Gradual increase in independence Exploration of new interests

3 A Quick Look at SJMS Grades Grades 6, 7, 8 Approximately 400 students in each grade Teams of teachers 90 minute blocks for instruction Grade Grade level Senior Teacher/Counselor

4 Senior Teacher What is it? Grade level administrator Contact for particular grade level Meet regularly with grade level teams and counselor to discuss student issues Teach 1 block/day Volunteer coordinator Partners-in in-education coordinator Transition coordinator

5 Our School Day The School Day 8:30-3:30 Front Doors open at 8:00 AM - No supervision is provided before 8 AM - Students may go to the library, gym, or cafeteria until 8:20 Breakfast is served from 8 AM 8:20 AM Student Drop-off and Pick-up is in front of the school - Please use the cross walk when crossing the bus loop Traffic through the front parking lot is one way

6 Alternating Day Block Schedule A DAY A1 FLEX A2 (includes lunch) A3 A4 B DAY B1 FLEX B2 (includes lunch) B3 B4

7 Facts about the A/B Day Calendar A/B days are set in advance The entire county uses the same calendar. The A/B day calendar is set in stone.. It will not change even in the event of a missed day due to inclement weather.

8 Wildcats Generals Teams! Atlantis Titans What is so special about teams? Each team shares 4 teachers (Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science) Teams are instructional and developmental provide a sense of belonging involve knowledge of the whole student Team classrooms are located in clusters Student lockers are located outside team classrooms Teams provide a social structure for students (team socials, field trips, FLEX activities, intramurals)

9 6 th Grade Team Floor Plan US History I Language Arts LOCKERS LOCKERS LOCKERS LOCKERS Life Science Math

10 Lockers Lockers are new for everyone in sixth grade. We give students time to practice during the first week of school. If a child forgets his/her combination, the flex teacher has it written down. Locker jam? Magic key to the rescue! Have your child practice on a combination lock that you can purchase from any hardware store.

11 Homework Yes! Homework will be assigned each night. Students write down their homework in the agenda book and teachers initial or stamp these books daily. You can also visit teachers Blackboard sites to view homework assignments and announcements. Homework is practice. If your child struggles excessively on one particular assignment, please make sure to inform the teacher. Encourage your child to do homework on the night that it is assigned.

12 Your Role as Parents Be Involved Ask Questions Establish Homework Patterns Designate a specific time and place Visit the School and Teachers Meet your Child s s Friends Encourage Participation in Extracurricular Activities

13 Parent Groups PTA Boosters School Improvement Teams School Volunteers Chaperone dances & field trips Assist in our library Career speakers Team activities & socials Help out in the office and greet visitors Copy volunteers Tutor students who need extra help Special Projects

14 Communication Team Planning/Team meetings Assignment Notebooks/Agendas Blackboard and TeacherEase If you have a question or concern, we are here to help find an answer!

15 Students Can Get Involved in Clubs! SCA Computer Science Drama Art Guild Garden Chess Yearbook Fear Not Dance Sign Language Step Club Outdoor Writers Library/Young Readers Pep Club FFA FBLA Scrapbook Technology Running Language Reading Olympians

16 Other Activities Intramural Sports Interscholastic Sports Chorus, Band, Strings Concerts Forensics Competition, Spelling Bee, OM Competition School Play, Talent Show Dances!

17 Counselor s s Role Classroom guidance Consultation with parents/teachers/etc. Help coordinate meetings, activities Individual and small group counseling Scheduling

18 Required Classes Language Arts (1 ½ blocks) Math (1 ½ blocks) (Math 6 Course 1; Math 7 Course 2) Life Science U.S. History I Health/PE Electives (2 Blocks) option 1 2 year-long option 2 1 year long and 2 semesters option 3 4 semesters

19 Split Block One block every other day will be a split block for Language Arts & Math. Students will spend 45 minutes in L.A. and then 45 minutes in Math, or vice versa. This allows students to have both subjects every day: 90 minutes of each on one day and 45 minutes of each the next day.

20 Elective Courses: Electives make up a total of TWO (2) class blocks. The following options are available: 1. TWO year-long courses OR 2. ONE year-long course and TWO semester courses OR 3. FOUR semester courses

21 First Option: YEAR LONG YEAR LONG

22 Second Option: SEMESTER YEAR LONG SEMESTER

23 Third Option: SEMESTER SEMESTER SEMESTER SEMESTER

24 Elective Options Year-long Exploratory Band Chorus Strings Reading/Math Workshop G/T Seminar Resource (IEP) World Language (high school credit) Semester Art 6 Forensics Theater Arts 6 Keyboarding Computer Concepts Computer Publishing Weather Science Environmental Science Reading/Math Workshop G/T Seminar

25 Math Levels at SJMS 6 th grade: Math 6 Math 7 7 th grade: Math 7 Prealgebra 8 th grade: Algebra I Prealgebra Algebra I Geometry

26 Choosing the Correct Math Course Discuss options with your child s s teacher and school counselor Consider current math placement Consider current grades in math Consider past math grades Consider your child s s ability to handle change Set up a schedule to ensure your child s s success!

27 World Language Electives: Spanish French Latin German

28 Things to Keep in Mind When Deciding on Taking a Language ALL World Languages are HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL classes. Students will take the same mid-terms and finals that the high school students studying their level of the language take. Homework is assigned virtually every night, and students are expected to study minutes on top of homework time every day.

29 How do I know if my child is ready to learn another language? Possesses strong language arts skills Able to memorize vocabulary words Excellent speller Is able to retain knowledge over a period of time Has a high level of self discipline Does not perceive homework as busy work Good time management skills Consistently completes homework assignments Is a highly motivated student who enjoys a challenge Possesses good listening & note-taking skills Catches on quickly to concepts Has abstract reasoning ability

30 Language Arts Support: Read 180 (Teacher Recommendation) What is READ 180? Researched based reading intervention for older students reading below grade level. Who should be in READ 180? Students who: Lack decoding skills Poor comprehension skills Lack vocabulary and background knowledge Failure to pass SOL tests

31 Read 180 (continued) Where is READ 180 being used for the 2010/2011 school year? Reading Writing Workshop Special Education self-contained language arts class What skills are developed using READ 180? Phonics Vocabulary Comprehension - Spelling - Fluency - Writing

32 Read 180 (continued) How How is the program structured? Whole group instruction 20 minutes Small group instruction 3 twenty minute rotations Computer station Teacher lead station Silent reading station

33 Gifted and Talented Students are cluster grouped for core classes Core teachers differentiate curriculum DEP sent home at semester and end of year May take the GT elective GT resource teacher responsibilities

34 Gifted & Talented Elective class for 6 th,, 7 th, and 8 th graders Can be taken for a semester or the whole year Theme based- UTOPIA for year Class Focus is on: Higher level thinking Small group discussions Independent studies Research skills Production and presentation

35 Special Education Your child s s IEP determines the least restrictive environment in which he/she will receive instruction. The services determined at the IEP meeting will guide your child s s course placement at Stonewall. We try to send a middle school representative to all IEP meetings of rising 6 th graders at the elementary schools to ensure a smooth transition between the elementary and middle school programs.

36 You do need a gym suit. You can use an older sibling s s gym suit. You do have to run. You will have a separate gym locker. You will get a letter grade. You have fun! You do not have to take a shower, but you may if you wish. You will not run all period long. You do not have PE every day, it meets every other day. Some days you have Health.

37 Sports Eligibility Requirements: Physicals - After May 1, 2011 Passing Grades Cheerleading Fall girls basketball football boys soccer girls tennis Winter boys basketball gymnastics wrestling Spring baseball girls soccer softball boys tennis boys/girls track

38 Athletic Eligibility Physical Eligibility: requires a current physical, signed by a doctor must be dated AFTER May 1 of current school year example: May 24, 2011 would be eligible for the school year requires proof of insurance on the back Physical forms are available in the SJMS main office Physical Forms are available online at: oolathleticform.pdf

39 Athletic Eligibility Academic Eligibility Fall & Winter Sports: must pass L. Arts & Math for the previous school year must pass 3 additional year long classes Gymnastics & Spring Sports: same as Fall & Winter, only students must have passed those classes for the 1 st Semester

40 Athletic Eligibility Most Common Reasons Why a Student is NOT Allowed to Participate in Try-outs: 1. Student does not have an athletic physical on file 2. Physical was NOT signed by a doctor 3. Physical is out-of of-date 4. Parents did not complete parts IV & V on back of the physical form 5. Parents did not indicate that student is currently covered by an insurance policy

41 Athletic Eligibility Q: When is the best time to turn in your athletic physical? answer: August of 2011 Q: Who do I give the athletic physical to? answer: Coach Arco, Coach Witherow, Front Office

42 Transition Activities Staff visits Elementary Schools: December Parent/Counselor Elementary Schools: December/January Parent/Student Orientation Night: January 4 5 th graders visit SJMS for tour: March 5 th grade Shadow Day: April SJ Principal visits Elementary Schools: June 6 th grade Newsletter: June Orientation, Schedules, Fees: August Back-to to-school Night: Fall

43 Important Contact Information: Ms. Sarah Pike 6 th Grade Senior Teacher spike@hcps.us Mrs. Holly Hoover 6 th Grade Counselor hhoover@hcps.us

44 Contact Information: Mrs. Disharoon, Principal Mrs. Cribbs, Math Coach Ms. Myrick, World Language Dept. Chair Mrs. Dupont,, Reading Coach Mrs. Burns, Gifted and Talented Coordinator Mrs. Johnson, Special Education Senior Teacher Mrs. Upshaw, P.E. Dept. Chair Mr. Arco, Co-Athletic Director

45 Additional Contact Information: Mr. Charity, Band Ms. Hawley, Strings Mrs. Dickerson, Chorus Mrs. Kluender, Art Mrs. D Ascoli, D Theater Arts Mrs. Carter, Computers scharity@hcps.us mhawley@hcps.us ldickerson@hcps.us mkluender@hcps.us rdascoli@hcps.us kcarter@hcps.us

46 Welcome to the SJMS Family! SJMS... where Success Just Makes Sense!