Transcript students and parents to Conner Middle School!

Welcome to Conner
th
Middle School’s 6 Grade
Parent Orientation!
Home of the Colts!
Meet The Staff—Administration
Principal, James Brewer
Assistant Principal, Adele Gormley
Vice Principal, Jennifer Warford
School Counselor
Rebecca Burton
School Psychologist
Bridget Warnke
School Resource Officer
Kerry Curry
Office Staff
Front Desk, Debbie Vickers
Front Desk, Angie Volz
Clinic, Kathy Schick
About CMS
Enrollment—Approx. 1150 6th, 7th, & 8th grade students
 Population consists of a full range of socio-economic levels
including a free/reduced lunch population of approx. 31%
 State Test Scores: CMS ranked in the top five in the region
and achieved test scores at the 87th and 93rd percentiles over
the past two years.
 Enrichment program-First 40 minutes of each day where we
provide extra assistance for at-risk students, focus on college
readiness skills for the majority of the students and provide
extended learning for our high achieving students.
 Top Music Program in the state:
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Band recognized on a national level multiple times
Only school with an orchestra in NKY
Team Concept, which allows us to personalize your child’s
education in a large school setting
Unified Arts Classes
6 Week Rotations
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Art
Physical Education
Health
Careers/Finance
Technology
Theater
All students
receive six weeks
of each.
Optional Unified Arts Courses
Spanish and Speech/Communication (All
students not in band, chorus, or orchestra
will receive these classes for 18 weeks each.
 Band—Full Year
 Chorus—Full Year
 Orchestra – Full Year
 STLP—Full Year
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Conner Middle Pledge
Today we will be HIP!
We will Honor our school.
We will show Integrity with others.
We will take Pride in ourselves.
Today we will show Honor, Integrity and
Pride so that others will be proud of us.
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Honor—your
school
Integrity—withFocus
Pride—in yourself
Classroom
others
 Be positive at all
times
 Talk quietly and
respectfully
 Keep classrooms
neat and clean
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 Follow classroom
rules and routines
 Respect others’
opinions
 Talk with
permission
 Listen and respond
politely to others
 Respect others’
personal space
 Arrive to class on
time
 Bring materials
 Do your best work
 Stay on task and
participate
 Complete your own
work, on time
 Take care of all
personal belongings
 Take responsibility
for your actions
Students who show Honor, Integrity,
or Pride, anywhere in the school, may
be given a HIP Slip.
 HIP Slips will be given out by teachers,
counselors, principals, secretaries,
custodians, and other staff at Conner
Middle School.
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April 13, 2015
HIP Slips
Fast Pass—leave the café early to go to
the gym or outside; show HIP Slip to a
café staff member and ask if you may
leave early; give HIP Slip to Mr. Rowland.
 HIP Store—use HIP Slips like cash; store
is open monthly.
 Sweats Pass—allows you to wear sweats
or athletic shorts; purchase each morning
in the gym.
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Common Questions?
When can I pick up my child’s schedule?
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August 7th - 1:30 pm - 6:00 pm
…pay school fees ($60)
…purchase school supplies,
…purchase CMS spirit wear
…tour the building, find classrooms, meet teachers, etc.
…bus information
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Schedule pick-up is held in the gymnasium and
cafeteria
Common Questions?
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Will my child have a book to take home?
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Each child will have his/her own math and language arts
workbook. We are in the process of looking at digital
textbooks in science.
What are student fees at the middle school?
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$60 General Registration Fee
 $20 for reduced
Additional rental fees for instrumental programs
Common Questions?
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What time does school begin/end?
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How much does lunch cost?
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Lunch=$2.25; Breakfast=$1.00 (Deposit money on-line)
What options are available for lunch/breakfast?
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Classes begin at 7:35 a.m.
Students are dismissed to the buses at approximately
2:35; walkers/riders are dismissed at approximately 2:41
Lunch—multiple options available daily (pizza, tacos,
hamburgers, salads, fruit, and regular lunch)
Breakfast—cereal, breakfast bars, milk/juice
Do the students have “recess” at CMS?
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Students receive 30 minutes daily to eat and socialize
with friends outside or in the gymnasium
Common Questions?
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Do the students stay with the same kids all day
long? No
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Students are grouped in families (assigned to same
four teachers for their core classes)
 Students
are mixed within family throughout the day
 Students from all 6th grade families are mixed for UA
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Will my child have classes with 7th and 8th grade
students? Generally no, however, some mixing will
occur for Enrichment groups.
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Students remain in their own grade level hallway at all
times except for lunch, UA, and Enrichment
Lunch time will overlap with older students by
approximately 10 minutes
Common Questions?
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Will my child be lost on the first day?
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Probably…along with every other new student and staff
member 
We have already conducted orientation for students to
familiarize them with the building
We encourage you to help your child find all classes
(especially homeroom) on schedule pick-up night
On the first day, teachers will orient the children to the
building again
Camp Colt will help! August 8th from 9:30 – 2:00
What if they lose or forget their schedule?
Homeroom lists will be posted in the front lobby 1st week
 HR teacher will have a new copy in the classroom
 You are able to print a new schedule from Parent Portal
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Common Questions?
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Are the students supervised and safe?
Yes, teachers are in the hallways during all class changes
 Teams change classes at different times; therefore, it is
rare that all 6th graders are in the hallway at the same
time
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30 cameras throughout the building
 Resource Officer is on site daily
Are we able to visit during the day?
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You are welcome to visit anytime; however, you must
report to the main office first to get a visitor’s pass and
receive approval from the principal prior to the visit
All doors, except for the main door, are locked during the
day
Common Questions?
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Do I need to buy a lock for my child’s locker?
 Not
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required…most students do not use them.
Are there advanced curriculum opportunities
for my child?
Teachers differentiate within the classroom to
support all levels of learning
 Enrichment provides learning above the core
curriculum
 Advanced Math—Students are able to take an
advanced track to earn an Algebra I credit in 8th
grade. Data from 5th and 6th grade is used to
determine placement in advanced classes.
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Common Questions
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How does CMS communicate with parents?
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Announcements—posted daily on school web site,
www.cms.boone.kyschools.us, emailed through IC,
posted to Facebook and Twitter
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Facebook link on website
Follow us on Twitter @CMColts
Report Cards—Every 6 Weeks
 *Parent Portal provides daily access to grades,
attendance, schedules, report cards, etc.
E-mail (Please provide on emergency cards)
Automated Phone System
Agenda books
Teachers call on most discipline situations; copies of all
discipline forms are sent home with student.
Common Questions
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What if my child is absent or tardy?
Be sure you send notes and call for all absences
 5 parent notes permitted for absences
 5 parent notes permitted for tardies/dismissal
 Beyond 5, doctor’s notes are required for an absence to
be considered excused
 Beyond 10 absences, we require the doctor to fill out a
special form for the absence to be considered excused
 Students are responsible for getting missed work
 Attendance policies are listed in student agenda book
 *Good attendance is key to success!
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Picking students up for an early dismissal?
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If possible, send a note in advance
Common Questions?
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How much homework will my child have at the
middle school?
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Most students will have homework nightly; however,
homework should take no longer than one hour
If your child consistently tells you they have no
homework, they MIGHT be fibbing a bit. I would suggest
contacting your child’s teachers
What options do I have if my child needs
assistance with work?
At-risk students are targeted daily through Enrichment
 Tutoring is available after school daily (info will be sent
home in September)
 If you are concerned, contact your child’s teachers
immediately
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Can I get involved at the middle school?
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May I drive my child to and from school?
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Yes, however, around 7:15 traffic becomes majorly congested
Does the school have a dress code?
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YES! We welcome parent volunteers for all events at CMS (tutoring,
classroom assistance, dances, etc.)
Sign-up for PTSO…GET INVOLVED!
Yes, see web site, under student resources/student handbook
Are students permitted to chew gum?
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Yes
Common Questions?
Are there extra-curricular opportunities?
Academic
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Governor’s Cup
Future Problem Solving Team
Academic Team
Math Counts
Science Club
Coding Club
Leadership
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Student Council—60+ members
National Junior Honor Society—140+ members
Speech and Drama
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NOTE: Announcements
will be made for tryouts and registration
for all teams, clubs,
and events. Check the
web site daily for
announcements
School Play conducted each Spring
Speech team
Common Questions?
Extra-Curricular opportunities continued?
Athletic
Check web site daily
Basketball (try-outs in the Fall)
for announcements
for each activity
 Camp in the Summer
 Volleyball (try-outs at the end of summer)
 Archery
 Cheerleading (try-outs at beginning of summer)
 Intramural Basketball (Spring)
 Ski Club (announcements will be made in Fall)
 Additional sports are offered through the high school
such as: wrestling, track, cross country, tennis, soccer,
baseball, etc.
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Common Questions?
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Is my child permitted to bring a cell phone or other
electronic equipment to school?
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Yes. BCSD is now a BYOT (Bring Your Own
Technology) district. As we move toward 21st Century
Learning, technology will be embedded into instruction
to simulate real world experiences and problem solving.
Students will be able to connect up to three devices (i.e.
smart phone, iPad/Kindle, lap top) to use in class when
directed by staff. Note: This does not mean students
may use cell phones whenever they want.
Common Questions?
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Are there restrictions on backpacks?
 No
 Traditional
backpacks must be kept in lockers
 Drawstring backpacks may be taken to class
with them.
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Can students switch out of Optional UA
classes once they sign-up?
 Yes,
they have about a two-week window,
which will be announced to the students.
Special Events & Activities
Camp Colt—August 8th, Cost $5
 Boy’s Basketball Camp - June 9-12 ($60)
 Girl’s Basketball Camp – June 16-19, ($60)
 Girl’s Volleyball Camp – July 28-30 ($60)
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See web site or visit the main
office to pick up a registration
form for each camp.
Important Dates to Remember
Schedule Pick-Up—August 7th, 1:30 – 6:00 p.m.
 Camp Colt – August 8th, 9:30 – 2 p.m.
 First Day—Wednesday, August 13th
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Have a GREAT Summer!
We will see you in August!