Transcript NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL - Charlotte

COMMUNITY HOUSE
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Note cards are for parent questions that arise
during the presentation. We will attempt to
answer as many as we can during this evening. If
your question is not answered, please put your
email on the note card and drop your card in the
basket at the end of the evening.
Congratulations!
You’re A Middle School Student Starting
Today 
Mom and Dad….Stop Worrying….
At CHMS, we are a TEAM. Everyone is
working together to create a successful
experience for your child and you.
Student Demographics
 1766 Students
 Approx. 16% ED
 63.1 % White
 12.4 % African American
 10.4 % Hispanic
 15.3 % Asian
One of only four CMS middle schools to receive a grade of
“A” from the state
One of the top ten middle schools in the state with regards to
growth composite
A Current Day at CHMS
9:15am – 4:15pm
**Before and After-School will have programs at CHMS
 Arrival - Do not drop off prior to 8:45am
 Lockers
 First Block – Academics - tardy if not seated in
class at 9:15am
 Second Block – Academics
 Lunch
 Enrichment Block
 Third Block – Academics
 Fourth Block - Electives
BLOCK SCHEDULE
 Students take 4 core classes per year:
Language Arts, Math, Science & Social
Studies.
 Students take 4 semesters of electives per
year. They rotate on an A-Day/B-Day
basis. All students take PE/Health for a
semester.
CHMS Is So Big…Will My
Child Get Support?
 Team/Community
Approach
 Guidance Counselors
 Grade Level
Administrators
 Academic Counselor
 Welcome Week
 Tutoring
CHMS Is So Big…Will My
Child Have Fun?
 Athletic Events **
 Academic
Competitions
 Middle School
Madness (YMCA)
 Dances
 Team Spirit Week
 Grade Level
Celebrations
 Club Opportunities
CHMS Is So Big...Will My
Child Be Safe?
 CSA and SRO monitor/circulate the halls and villas
 Grade Level Hallways
 All staff and students are required to wear ID badges
 Visible Administrators
 Full time Nurse and 3 Trained First Responders
 All Visitors Must Sign In and Receive a Photo Badge
 Parents Must Show ID when Picking Up a Child
 No tolerance for bullying…including cyber-bullying
Let’s Talk About Cyber-Behavior
 One of our biggest behavior challenges
results from Social Media. Mom and dad,
are you familiar with:
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Twitter
Instagram and Snapchat
KIK
Ask.fm
Vine
**We will host Teens and Technology sessions in the fall. Your
attendance is highly recommended
Will the Children Be Held to
High Behavior Standards?
 School-Wide Discipline Plan – Team Sheets
 Rights and Responsibilities Handbook
enforced consistently
 Dress Code
 Cell Phone/Electronics Policy (1 to 1
school)
 Tardy Policy
 No Exceptions
CHMS Is So Big…How Will I
Know What Is Going On?
 Every Friday, we publish a newsletter
highlighting the events in our school – The
Community House Courier
 It will be emailed to you. Sign up for our
listserv now…Link on the Website (School
Resources…CHMS Courier Sign Up). You
can begin getting these sent to you NOW 
 All teachers are required to have a webpage
where class information is updated weekly.
A word from our kids…
Questions from Rising 6th graders answered
by our current 8th grade student leaders…
Let’s talk course selection…and what
you’re hearing in the community
 I heard that you don’t address TD in the middle school.
 I heard you have open access…but now kids that shouldn’t
be in honors will lower the bar for my child.
 I heard my child must be in honors so he’s not behind in
high school math.
 I heard you don’t want to get Ms. So and So…
 I heard you don’t always get the electives you want.
 What else have you heard?
How Do I Select Academic Courses?
All courses follow the Common Core State Standards (http://www.corestandards.org/)
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Levels of Math -All students will follow the Common Core Standards as this
curriculum is the foundation for all higher level courses.
– Honors Math 6 – This course will follow the 7th grade CCSS. There will be
opportunities for 6th grade standards to be brought into units, but the core
curriculum will be the 7th grade standards.
– Math 6 – This course will follow the 6th grade CCSS.
– Math I** - This year, as a result of the increase in personalized learning across our
feeder pattern, we will offer an “Algebra readiness” exam to ensure we are meeting
the needs of our highest achieving students. You may choose to bring your child in
to sit for this exam on either May 13th at 6pm or May 16th at 9am. We will contact
families if the data indicates a need to consider a higher course than Honors Math 6
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The math standards require a large amount of critical thinking, mathematical reasoning and written explanation
of conceptual understanding.
If your child struggles with reading comprehension and written expression, you may want to consider Math 6 as
the pacing will provide ample time for your child to build on these skills.
Schedule changes can rarely be accommodated once the school year begins.
Math Trajectory
Standard Track =Math 6 – Math 7 – Math 8
High School = Math I – Math II – Math III – Pre-Calc
Honors Track = Math 7 – Math 8 – Math I
High School = Math II – Math III – Pre-Calc – AP Calc
**Alternate Track = Math 7 – Math I – Math II
High School = Math III – Pre-Calc – AP Calc – AP Stats
How Do I Select Academic
Courses?
 Language Arts
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All of our language arts classes use the full Pre-AP SpringBoard curriculum to
supplement the CCSS. Within this program, individual student needs are targeted
through changes in content, process and/or product. For example, reading material is
differentiated based upon each student’s scale score (EOG) and lexile level.
Additionally, all students are immersed in a comprehensive vocabulary program
grounded in the study of Greek and Latin roots as they apply to an overall understanding
of language. This program is also differentiated according to student need and
readiness. All language arts classes are taught at an honors level with the understanding
that a portion of our students may need additional support throughout the school year.
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The courses with the “Honors” title use the top tier of lexile levels when assigning
novels and other texts. While there is some variance within these tiers, students in an
Honors LA course will be assigned more complex and challenging texts that typically
fall in the 1000+ lexile range. Please be aware that this can sometimes bring increased
maturity in themes**
How Do I Choose Honors or
Standard?
Consider your child’s standardized test scores, MAP data,
classroom performance, and work ethic.
 Talk with your child’s current teacher…what does he/she
see on a daily basis in the classroom?
 Parent will have final decision as we are using open access
philosophy…use the data…set your child on the right path.
 Signature on the registration card is acknowledgement of
the course you desire and your understanding that there
will be no schedule changes.
 **We will permit changes in June should your EOG
data indicate the need for a different level. Please
email Mr. McHugh if this is the case.
How Do I Select Academic
Courses?
 All Students take Science and Social Studies
which are NOT leveled. Teachers differentiate
within the classroom to meet individual needs for
acceleration/remediation. These two courses
generally provide the biggest “discomfort” for 6th
grade students during the first grading period.
 All Students take Health/PE for one semester.
Students must wear CHMS gym uniform for PE
which is purchased through the Athletic Booster
Club in August.
How Do I Select Electives?
 You may select 3 semesters of electives (PE
is the 4th).
 You may either choose 3 semester courses
OR one year and one semester course.
– If your child wants Band or Orchestra, he/she will select that plus
ONE other course
– If your child DOES NOT want Band/Orchestra, he/she will choose
three semester courses.
– Must complete an Instrument Permission Form
– No guarantees of instrument
– All music students will meet with the band or orchestra teacher
before school begins for instrument assignment purposes
How Do I Select Electives?
 Art Wheels
– One Wheel is 9 weeks of Dance and 9 weeks of
Chorus (performing arts)
– Other Wheel is 9 weeks of Drama and 9 weeks
of Art (visual arts)
– In 7th and 8th grades, these courses are all separate. The
wheel gives them a chance to explore a little of everything
to see what they enjoy
– A child may take BOTH arts wheels; this would equal two
choices
How Do I Select Electives?
 Foreign Language Wheel
– This course is exploratory and is 9 weeks of Spanish
and 9 weeks of French.
– It is NOT a pre-requisite for the 7/8 grade course nor
does it guarantee a seat in 7/8 grade language.
– Foreign Language is NOT a middle school necessity.
**There are implications for taking MS foreign
language.
Some students will receive a semester of exploring Spanish and
others will get a combination of French/Spanish
How Do I Select Electives?
 Computer Apps I will focus on Word Processing and Digital Literacy
 Exploring Careers STEM will look at careers within the science, technology,
engineering and math fields. Each of these Computer courses may only be
taken ONCE in MS.
 Journalism/Debate will explore creative writing, news writing and elements of
debate
 Fit for Life will focus on physical fitness and proper nutrition
 You will also select alternate choices as elective placement is not guaranteed.
 **All classes subject to change based on staffing - 2015/2016 Budget
constraints.
 Registration cards due April 2. Select carefully as we do not do schedule
changes. We also do not take teacher requests.
**This year YOU will register online following the selections you make on the
card
How to Complete Course
Registration in Powerschool
 This year all course selection will be completed in
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Power School
You will need to know your PS Login or your
child’s login
The window to complete course selection is
currently open and will remain open until April 2
Students that do not complete the online registration
by April 2 will have the school complete it for them
There is no benefit to “being the first one done.” It
is NOT first come, first served
Logon to PowerSchool at https://cms.powerschool.com.
Enter either the parent ID and password or the student ID and password
where it says “Parent Sign In.”
Click on the Class Registration
icon.
Follow the directions carefully. You have successfully completed an
area when you see a green check mark next to the pencil icon.
a. You will be selecting the courses that you have already chosen on
your registration card.
b. Pick the number of classes you are told to pick in each area.
c. The computer will not allow you to leave blanks unless instructed
to do so.
When done, click on the submit button at the bottom of
the page. If you did everything as instructed, it will
accept your requests. If you left something blank that
is not supposed to be blank, it will not accept any of
your choices.
A Few Last Notes…
Spirit Wear on sale tonight in the lobby.
There will be another Open House in the summer
where you will get to meet your teachers, learn
more specifics, buy PE uniforms and required
readings.
Be looking for summer assignments…they are
required!
Email [email protected] or
[email protected] with any questions
Informal Touring
WELCOME TO
COMMUNITY HOUSE
MIDDLE SCHOOL
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION IS
OUR PRIMARY FOCUS
We Are Glad You Are Part Of Our
Team!