WELCOME TO SIXTH GRADE at GEORGE FOX MIDDLE SCHOOL

MISSION STATEMENT

 George Fox Middle School Students will be prepared for the 21 st century with the MINDTOOLS and TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS needed to be successful and productive citizens and understand that they will need to be lifelong learners.

VISION

 Positive learning environment  Technology oriented unit and lesson plans  Performance driven instruction  Positive test scores

Staff must MODEL and STUDENTS Demonstrate the Following:  Excellent Attendance  Positive Attitudes  Acquire Skills and Knowledge Necessary to Improve All Test Scores

 A  A  A

STRIVE FOR THE THREE A’S

George Fox Middle School Academic or Core Classes     English/Language Arts – reading, writing, vocabulary development, grammar and usage.

Mathematics – fractions, decimals, percents, integers, measurement, probability, and statistics.

Science – Matter & Energy, Environment Social Studies – Ancient World History and Cultural Geography Each Core Class meets Every Day

GFMS Encore or Wheel Classes

(Each class meets for Seven Weeks)      Art or True Colors FACS – Building Blocks for a Healthy Lifestyle TE - Exploring Technology Education (Shop or Industrial Arts) World Language Connection – The introduction to Chinese, French, and Spanish Strategies for Success with Computers

George Fox Middle School Elective or Encore ABC Classes

 * Physical Education – Focus on Fitness and Health through conditioning and skill building exercises. *Required class for all students   Fine Arts –Band, Percussion, Strings, Chorus, and Music Goes Global Other Classes include Passport to the World, Box Score, Dance, Project Runway, and AVID Note: All students take PE plus two other classes the same encore period in a three day cycle.

Academic Interventions

 Reading Interventions – Currently offer Wilson, Spell Read, and SOAR to Success  PAR and WI Reading Support Classes  Box Score Math Support Classes  Each of these classes will replace an encore class for those students who are NOT proficient in MSA reading or math.

PE Uniforms

 Grey Heavy T-Shirt = $10.00

 Maroon Mesh Shorts = $12.00

 Shirt and Shorts = $22.00

 Also available but Not required:  Sweat Pants = $15.00

AACPS’ Promotion Policy

 Students must pass three of four core classes each year. (Academic)  Students must pass a majority of Encore classes each year (Elective)  In middle school, students fail if they fail the same core class more than once.

Maryland State Department of Education's Testing Schedule     Maryland State Assessments are given to all students in grades 3 through 8 and grade 10 for reading.

Maryland State Assessments are given to all students in grades 3 through 8 for math and for Algebra for high school.

MSA Reading and Math Testing are scheduled for two days each in the month of March.

MSA Science Testing is scheduled for the month of April for grade 8 using computers.

Regular Bell Schedule for Grade Six

7:30 AM – Staff and Breakfast Bell 7:40 AM – Entering Bell for students 7:50 AM – Late Bell and Announcements 7:56 AM – Dismissal Bell to Period One 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Period One - Encore 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Period Two

Regular Bell Schedule (continued)

GRADE SIX 10:00 – 11:00 Period 3 11:00 – 12:00 Period 4 - Encore 12:00 – 12:30 Lunch - 5 12:30 – 1:30 Period 6 1:30 – 2:35 Period 7 2:35 Dismissal for Bus Students 2:40 Dismissal for All Others

Cafeteria

 Breakfast Program: Starts 7:30 AM  $1.35 Regular $0.30 Reduced  (2 food items)  Muffins, cereal, cinnamon rolls, pop tarts, bagels, biscuits plus juice, milk Note: All students will use their school six digit identification number to purchase food from the cafeteria

Cafeteria (cont.)

 Lunch  $2.85 Regular; $0.40 Reduced  Hot Steak Sub  Chicken Nuggets  Cold Ham/Bologna Sub  Crispy Chicken Sandwich  Pizza  Regular, Pepperoni, Mexican

Cafeteria

 A la Carte Items (various prices)  Pies  Soup  Donuts  Funnel Cake  Nachos & Cheese  Chips  Bagel and Cream Cheese

George Fox Middle School Before and After School Clubs and Activities  Examples:  Ukulele Club  Band Practice  Strings Practice Intramurals Art Club Civics Club   Choral Practice Environmental Club Dance Club Yearbook Club  Student Government Association

Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies (PBIS)  Recognizes Appropriate Behavior  Emphasizes Respect for Self, Others, Property, and Learning  Students earn FOX PAWS from Staff  Raffles, Incentives, Assemblies, Purchase Items from PAW CART and School Store

Lanyards and Picture ID’s

 Promotes School Safety  Promotes School Security  First one free to sixth graders then $3.00

 Everyone in the school is asked to wear their ID’s and Lanyards each day

WEB LINKS

 These web sites provide valuable educational information. Visit one SOON!

 Anne Arundel Co. Public School www.aacps.org

    GFMS www.aacps.org/aacps/gfms/index.html

School Notes  www.schoolnotes.com

(type in Pasadena zip code 21122 to see George Fox Middle School and list of individual teachers) MD State Board of Education www.mdk12.org

MD School Performance Program www.mdk12.org/mspp/index.html

Student Led PARENT Conferences in Teacher Classrooms Each November

Setting Parent Goals

 Attend PTO/CAC Meetings generally held the 3 rd Tuesday each month.

 Visit the school for a morning, lunch or afternoon and sit in a class or two.

 Talk with your child 15 minutes each day about what they learned in school.

 Look for and read the Agenda Book (daily) and the Online Newsletter (monthly)  VOLUNTEER in the school

Volunteer Involvement

 Volunteers work in the cafeteria during lunches  Volunteers copy materials for classroom use any time during the school day  Volunteers work in the Media Center Workroom  Volunteers count Grocery Receipts at home or in school

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Visitor Parking

Seven Parking Spaces available in front of school by flag pole for visitor use DO NOT park in semi-circle Morning Drop Off  Front of school in semi-circle   Afternoon Pick Up Choice of Parking lot in Havenwood Park across from school (usually for 7 th and 8 th Graders) OR Back section of parking lot near old tennis courts where sixth graders exit the building each day.

George Fox Middle School Supply List for 2010-2011 Four one inch Binders each with a sheet protector  Red - Language Arts  Grey - Math    Green - Social Studies Navy – Science with At least 4 different pocket folders for Encore Classes  AVID – One Large Binder Pencil Case with:  Pencils   Colored Pencils Highlighter      Blue/Black/Red Pens Metric/Standard Ruler Glue Stick Paper Notebook Dividers

Sixth Grade Orientation to Middle School       Agenda Book ($5.00) Student Handbook School Packet (store) You need to purchase a Combination Hall Lock Activity Buses for Wed. and Thurs. Afternoons Appropriate Dress      Emergency Forms Email Addresses for Parent Connect Grade Book and Connect Ed Medications Online Monthly Newsletter * PTO/CAC – Need Volunteers to Help

Sixth Graders’ First Day Tuesday, August 23

rd  Sixth Graders meet in Student Activity Center on Day 1  Homeroom teachers will greet students  Agenda, Review Schedule, Hall Locker  Sixth graders will meet their teachers  Bus riders need to ride the bus in the AM to know their correct Bus number in PM.

Parent Connect Grade Program

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Complete Application Form with updated parent email address Bring form completed to the Main Office with a picture ID – like a Drivers License where we verify that you are the parent of the child as determined by our SASI computer program You will receive an email with you user ID and password

Picture Day

     Second Week of School All students have pictures taken through their Science Classes Picture purchase forms are mailed but extras are in main office or check school website to download form Free Student ID cards and pictures used for yearbook Make up pictures in early October

Back To School Night

 Please Plan to Join Us on Thursday, September 1 st , the second Thursday of the school year for Back To School Night.  Come and follow your child’s schedule to learn about the sixth grade curriculum and the content standards for each subject.

 Program will start promptly at 6:00 PM.

GEORGE FOX MIDDLE SCHOOL

Thank you Any Questions?