Moving to Middle School

1. Moving to Middle School Building the Foundation for High School and Beyond 2012-2013 HARPER’S CHOICE MIDDLE SCHOOL RISING 6TH GRADE PARENT ORIENTATION May 16, 2012

2. WELCOME! WE’RE GLAD YOU’RE HERE!

3. HCPSS GOALS • Goal 1: Each child, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, disability or socio-economic status, will meet the rigorous performance standards that have been established. All diploma-bound students will perform on or above grade level in all measured content areas. • Goal 2: Each school will provide a safe and nurturing school environment that values our diversity and commonality.

4. OUR VISION Our VISION is to be a world-class middle school, preparing our students for a global, 21st century society. Harper’s Choice Middle School is committed to providing rigorous instruction in an environment that fosters parental involvement in order to empower students for academic excellence and social success.

5. CORE VALUES • We are invested in our Children • Quality Instruction • Everyone is valued

6. OUR GOAL The research says… • The level of academic achievement that students attain by eighth grade has a larger impact on their college and career readiness than anything that happens academically in high school. • The earlier a student develops important academically related behaviors, the more likely these behaviors are to become habits. • Middle school is a defining point for students inthe college and career readiness process. Source: The Forgotten Middle: Ensuring that All Students Are On Target For College and Career Readiness Before High School, ACT, 2008.

7. OUR GOAL Our goal is to ensure that all middle school students have attained the knowledge and skills…to be prepared for their future.

8. OUR GOAL Our goal is to ensure that all middle school students have attained the knowledge and skills…to be prepared for their future. College & Career Readiness

9. The New Middle School Schedule OVERVIEW: • Seven 50-minute classes each day • Daily instruction in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science • Innovation and Inquiry Reading Modules • Additional instruction to students performing below grade-level expectations • A variety of Related Arts classes

10. The New Middle School Schedule OVERVIEW: • Prepares students to be college and career ready • Embeds literacy into courses • Provides more time for content instruction • Provides consistency in programs and schedules across schools

11. Harper’s Choice Schedule What does this mean for YOUR child at HARPER’S CHOICE MIDDLE SCHOOL?

12. Harper’s Choice Schedule • KEY TIMES • 7:55 a.m.: Doors open • 8:00 a.m.: Student must be in PERIOD 1 • 10:47 a.m.: 6th grade lunch • 2:50 p.m.: Dismissal

13. Harper’s Choice Schedule Everyday, ALL students have: Alpha (homeroom) Lunch 7 classes

14. Harper’s Choice Schedule • Everyday, ALL students have: • (Levels may vary) Social Studies Math Science English/Language Arts

15. Harper’s Choice Schedule • Does your child have • ? • You chose this on the form from your child’s elementary school Band Orchestra Chorus

16. Harper’s Choice Schedule If so, then… • Everyday, YOUR child will have: • You chose this on the form from your child’s elementary school Band Orchestra Chorus

17. Harper’s Choice Schedule If not, then… Everyday, YOUR child will have either: • Innovation and Inquiry Reading Modules: • Connections • Expanding & Exploring Career Options • The Future of Water • Taking Action to • Change My World OR OR Math Seminar Reading Seminar

18. Harper’s Choice Schedule Connections + 1 additional Reading Module are required of all 6th graders who do not have an above grade-level reading profile and who are not in a reading seminar. • Innovation and Inquiry Reading Modules: • Connections • Expanding & Exploring Career Options • The Future of Water • Taking Action to • Change My World This was determined by your child’s elementary school / 5th grade teachers

19. Harper’s ChoiceSchedule Connections + 1 additional Reading Module are required of all 6th graders who do not have an above grade-level reading profile and who are not in a reading seminar. • Innovation and Inquiry Reading Modules: • Connections • Expanding & Exploring Career Options • The Future of Water • Taking Action to • Change My World This was determined by your child’s elementary school / 5th grade teachers “Expanding and Exploring Career Options” includes the COMAR-required career education content.

20. Harper’s Choice Schedule These courses are for students who need support in meeting on-grade level expectations in math and/or reading. Math Seminar Reading Seminar This was determined by your child’s elementary school / 5th grade teachers

21. Harper’s Choice Schedule There are only 2 classes left: Related Arts • Related Arts classes meet: • Every other day (A/B) • Either: • All year • Half a year (1 semester) Students have 2 different Related Arts classes everyday.

22. Harper’s Choice Schedule • All students will take • All Year: • 1 semester: Physical Education Health Related Arts Class Options

23. Harper’s Choice Schedule • All students will take • All Year: • 1 semester: • If your child is not in band, orchestra • or chorus, he/she will take • 1 semester: Physical Education, Health and (1) Fine Arts Course are COMAR requirements during each year of middle school Physical Education Fine Arts: General Music or Art Health Related Arts Class Options

24. Harper’s Choice Schedule • Some students will take • 1 semester: • Some students will take • All Year: (Family & Consumer Science) FACS GT Research Class* (Technology Education) Reading Modules: Tech Ed Art General Music *You chose this on the form from your child’s elementary school Related Arts Class Options

25. Harper’s Choice Schedule • Some students will take • All Year: Only students in Orchestra, Chorus, Band or Math Seminar are eligible to take a Reading Module during the Related Arts periods. • Reading Modules: • Connections • Expanding & Exploring Career Options Related Arts Class Options

26. Harper’s Choice Schedule Connections + 1 additional Reading Module are required of all 6th graders who do not have an above grade-level reading profile and who are not in a reading seminar. • Some students will take • All Year: This was determined by your child’s elementary school / 5th grade teachers • Reading Modules: • Connections • Expanding & Exploring Career Options Related Arts Class Options

27. Harper’s Choice Schedule Connections + 1 additional Reading Module are required of all 6th graders who do not have an above grade-level reading profile and who are not in a reading seminar. Some students will take All Year: “Expanding and Exploring Career Options” includes the COMAR-required career education content. This was determined by your child’s elementary school / 5th grade teachers • Reading Modules: • Connections • Expanding & Exploring Career Options Related Arts Class Options

28. Harper’s Choice Schedule • Some students will take • 1 Semester: “Expanding and Exploring Career Options” includes the COMAR-required career education content. • Reading Modules: • Expanding & Exploring Career Options Related Arts Class Options

29. Harper’s Choice Schedule Some students will take All Year: • 6th & 7th Grades: All year, A/B day • 8th Grade: All year, daily • Preparation for Level II/II Honors or III/III Honors (based on student performance in class, work outside of class, and performance on end-of-course assessments) • Want to meet Graduation Requirement? Need 2 HS credits World Language: Spanish or French Related Arts Class Options

30. Harper’s Choice Schedule What does this look like for YOUR child at HARPER’S CHOICE MIDDLE SCHOOL?

31. SAMPLE 6TH GRADE SCHEDULE

32. SAMPLE 6TH GRADE SCHEDULE 6th Grade Schedule with: No “optional” classes  No recommended support classes ELA = English/Language Arts WL = World Language Reading = Innovation & Inquiry Reading Modules = Related Arts timeslot

33. SAMPLE 6TH GRADE SCHEDULE World Language ELA = English/Language Arts WL = World Language Reading = Innovation & Inquiry Reading Modules = Related Arts timeslot

34. SAMPLE 6TH GRADE SCHEDULE World Language  Math Seminar Does not have an “above grade level” reading profile ELA = English/Language Arts WL = World Language Reading = Innovation & Inquiry Reading Modules = Related Arts timeslot

35. SAMPLE 6TH GRADE SCHEDULE World Language  Band Does not have an “above grade level” reading profile ELA = English/Language Arts WL = World Language Reading = Innovation & Inquiry Reading Modules = Related Arts timeslot

36. SAMPLE 6TH GRADE SCHEDULE World Language  Chorus  GT-Research Has an “above grade level” reading profile ELA = English/Language Arts WL = World Language Reading = Innovation & Inquiry Reading Modules = Related Arts timeslot

37. Supporting Academic Behaviors Tips for Parents • Ensure that your child has the materials andplace to study at home. • Set a regular time for homework. • Encourage your child to be responsible for chores and homework. • Provide your child with a range of experiences toallow him/her to identify areas of strength. • Talk and listen to your child.

38. Supporting Academic Behaviors Tips for Parents • Stay involved in your child’s education. • Attend parent conferences. • Stay aware of your child’s homework and school demands. • Attend school events. • Try to connect outside experiences to school learning to increase interest and relevance.

39. RESOURCES

40. RESOURCES http://www.hcpss.org/academics/ms_program/

41. http://www.hcpss.org/academics/ms_program/

42. RESOURCES

43. THANK YOU! WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN SOON!