Welcome Parents! Incoming Grade 6 Parent Orientation

1. Welcome Parents!Incoming Grade 6 Parent Orientation February 29, 2012 MR. JOHN MCNAMARA PRINCIPAL MRS. JOAN WARTELL AST. PRINCIPAL MS. ANGELA DELESSIO AST. PRINCIPAL MRS. JOAN SAPIR GUIDANCE MRS. IRENE PETRSORIC GUIDANCE MS. VALERIE ZAFFERS GUIDANCE MRS. DANIELLE ORGONIK GUIDANCE Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School A Tradition of Excellence in Middle Level Education

2. Overview of Topics to be Discussed • Grade 6 Scheduling and Programs • What our Students are Saying about Sixth Grade • Clubs and Activities • Social and Emotional Issues for Grade 6 Students

3. Grade 6 Scheduling TEAMING IN GRADE 6 • Students are on a team of teachers in grade 6 for their four core subject areas: Math, Social Studies, Science and English • ELA is a double period block and their homebase teacher • They travel as a class for their core classes but are mixed for specials based on language choice • There will be two teams, each with approximately 95 students • Teams have common team planning time every day

4. LOTE • All students take a Language Other Than English (LOTE) in grade 6 • The LOTE courses are either Spanish or French, depending what the child chose to take in grade 6 • The successful completion of a language in grade 7 and 8 marks the completion of Spanish 1R or French 1R and allows students to take Spanish 2R or French 2R in grade 9

5. Encore Classes • The encore classes students take in grade 6 are as follows: Physical Education – Full Year/Alt. Day General Music – Half Year/Alt. Day CEU Spanish/French One Quarter/Alt. Day CEU Computers One Quarter/Alt. Day Art – Half Year/Alt. Day Home and Careers – Half Year/Alt. Day Health – Half Year/Every Day

6. Academic Intervention Services • Academic Intervention Services (AIS): AIS Reading or AIS Math • Support is provided for all students that do not meet NYS Standards in the areas of math and reading • Students that score below a level three on NYS Assessments are mandated by NYS to receive additional support • This is taken in lieu of one of the special area classes

7. Special Education Services • Students that have an IEP and receive support services may receive either Resource Room or an Integrated Co-Teaching Model Schedule • Students would receive a support period in lieu of General Music and the CEU’s

8. Looking Ahead at Some Decisions…. Math 7-1 (Grade 7) Earth Science (Grade 8) Art 9 (Studio Art) (Grade 8)

9. What do the Students Have to Say….

10. Clubs and Activities • There are a wide range of clubs for students to participate in (See the list in the handout) • Clubs meet during zero period on Monday or Wednesday • Students may participate in intramurals in the morning through the PE Department

11. Music Program • Students can participate in the following performing groups in grade 6: Symphonic Orchestra 5th and 6th Grade Chorus 5th and 6th Grade Band Jazz Band

12. Social and Emotional Development • Students are going through major changes during this time • Communication with parents often tends to decrease as peer groups become even more important to students • It is important that your child knows that there is an adult that they can talk to • Communication between home and school is critical

13. Parenting in the Tween and Teenage Years….. GOOD LUCK!!!!!

16. Question and Answer Session Thank you for Coming this evening!