Transcript Middle School: How to Make it Work!

Middle School: How to Make it
Work!
Dr. Stephenson, Principal
Lisa Vega, 6th Grade Administrator
Beth Graney, Director of School
Counseling
How Is Middle School
Different?
•
•
•
•
Different Classes
New Rules
Lockers!
A Busier Schedule
•
•
•
•
More
More
More
More
Classmates
Teachers
Choices
Homework
How Can Parents Make the
Transition Successful?
• Teach your child
• Attend open house
good judgment
• Help your child stay
• Support the
organized
teachers
• Help your child
manage his/her time • Learn more about
your child’s concerns
Parent Involvement is very
important to a child’s
successful middle school
transition!!
Organization
• Keep your child supplied with basic materials: paper,
pencils, rulers, etc.
• Encourage use of the agenda and school fusion:
www.bullruneagles.org.
• Check your child’s notebooks, book bags, and agendas on
a regular basis.
• Check Edulink to keep track of your child’s grades.
Managing Time
It is common for Middle School
students to PROCRASTINATE!
• Help your child break larger tasks into smaller
chunks.
• Have your child take time EACH day for reviewing
class work, doing assigned homework and
reorganizing notebooks.
Teach Good Judgment
• Friends and popularity are major issues in
middle school: Help your child develop a
sense of right and wrong.
• Encourage your child to have self-respect and
respect for others.
• Talk to your child about dangerous behaviors
such as the use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs &
internet usage.
• Encourage positive social activities, such as
sports, clubs, hobbies, and other healthy
interests with friends.
Support the Teachers
• Start with the teacher, rather than an administrator
or counselor, if you have concerns about your
child’s success or grade in a class. You can
contact teachers via email or telephone.
• Make appointments with your child’s advisory
teacher if you need to discuss bigger concerns
with your child’s entire team of teachers.
• Be patient when waiting for feedback from faculty
members. Keep in mind they have numerous
emails and phone calls to reply to each day.
• Volunteer if you can; to tutor, help out in the
classroom or help with sports and other school
activities and join the BRMS PTSO!
Learn About Your Child’s
Concerns
• Get to know your child’s friends.
• Let the school know of any teasing,
taunting, or bullying behavior.
• Ask open-ended questions and listen
closely.
Other Topics of Interest
• Procedures and
Policies: Safety, Bus,
Cafeteria, Tardiness/
absences
• Sport and club
involvement
• Bullying Program
• Interaction between
6th, 7th, and 8th
graders
• Class Sequencing
• Mock Schedules
• Resources
Procedures and Policies
• Safety: Weather and lockdown drills are
practiced throughout the school year.
Teachers and staff monitor the halls between
classes and before and after school. Cameras
monitor the hallways at all times.
• Bus: Students should only ride their assigned
bus unless they have a parent note with a
phone number, requesting to ride another
bus. The note will be verified by phone.
• Cell Phone: Students may have them as
long as they are not visible or activated
before or during the school day.
Procedures and Policies (cont.)
• Lunch: Two 6th Grade Lunches. 6th Grade teachers walk
students to and from lunch. Thirty minutes for lunch.
Cafeteria is well monitored with administrator present.
• Absences:Students should submit a written note from a
parent/guardian that provides a reason for the absence
with a signature and phone number. 5 unexcused
absences within a grading period will result in a referral
to the PWCS Attendance Officer.
• Tardiness: Too much time between classes leads to
discipline issues related to so many students in an
unstructured environment. Too little time can lead to
tardiness. We believe we provide sufficient time for
students to get to their locker, use the restroom and get to
class.
Sport and Club Involvement
• Students involved in school activities tend to be happier
and more successful.
• Sports that students try out for are very competitive. Do
not be discouraged if your child does not make the team
the first year!
• Some sports are intramural. Students will not have to try
out. (ex: cross country, tennis, and lacrosse).
• Students must have good grades and conduct to stay
involved in sports and clubs. They should be role models!
Participation in all sports requires a sports physical.
Schedule them early!
SOAR & Olweus Bully
Prevention Program
• Code of Behavior to all students at the
beginning of the year.
• Good Kids/Bad Choices Presentation to
students by counselors.
• Advisory activities and class meetings on
respecting and tolerating differences.
• “Kick Off” assembly on Respect in early fall.
• Parent Information Seminars on Cyber
bullying and bully prevention.
What can you do about
bullying?
• Let the school know if your child is a victim of
bullying or if he/she witnesses another being
bullied.
• Encourage your child to respect differences
and be a good bystander.
• Monitor your child’s computer activity:
On-line bullying tends to increase
in Middle School.
• Tip Line 703-791-2821.
th
6 ,
Interaction Between
th
and 8 Graders
th
7 ,
• Most of 6th classrooms are in an enclosed
pod. Sixth grade students have very little
interaction with older students.
• Lunch schedules are separated by grade
level.
• Sixth graders dismiss several minutes before
the rest of the students at the end of the day.
Typical Schedule
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
•
•
Double block of Math 6 or Ext. Math 6 (all rising 6th grade students will
take the Iowa Algebra Test of Readiness as a placement test at the end
of the 5th grade year) Some students may be placed in 7th grade Ext.
Math (Pre-Algebra) if warranted by test scores and committee
recommendation.
Double block of Language Arts-6 or Ext. Language Arts -6
Science 6-every other day
Social Studies 6-every other day
Chorus-green or-odd day (or Band, Orchestra) PE 6 even or yellow days
Exploratory Arts –(Art, Tech Ed, FACS) every day for 12 weeks
Each rotation is 12weeks
Math Support and Reading Strategies are scheduled through the Arts
rotation
Math Sequence
• Math 6, Math 7 , Math 8 (Pre-Algebra)
or
• Ext. Math 6, Ext Math 7 (Pre-Algebra), Algebra I
or
• Ext. Math 7 (Pre-Algebra), Algebra I, Geometry