Welcome to JFMS and

1. Welcome to JFMS and to the Panda Team It’s going to be a great year! Ellen Fountain, Stacy Lovdahl, Mary Phillips, Debbie Pitts, and Jackie Armstrong

2. Open House AgendaAugust 23, 2011 • Introductions • Lunch • Student schedules • Parent conferences • Volunteering • Lockers • Cell phones

3. Open House Agenda • Dress Code • Sports • Panda Team Rules • Panda Procedures • Using the Agenda • Absent & Make Up work • Team consequences • Rewards

4. Open House Agenda • Communication • Academic Class Overview

5. Introductions • Ellen Fountain – Language Arts and Writing Teacher and Team Leader • 21 years teaching experience and 14 years here at Jacobs Fork. • Certified in language arts and social studies. • Girls on the Run Coach. • B.S. Lenoir Rhyne. M.S. Appalachian State.

6. Introductions • Debbie Pitts – Math Teacher and Math Dept. Chair • 9 years teaching experience and 8 years here at Jacobs Fork. • Certified in math. • Formerly worked in the insurance/banking field. • B.S. UNC-Chapel Hill (GO HEELS!!!).

7. Introductions • Mary Phillips – Social Studies Teacher • 23 years teaching experience. • Certified in Social Studies and Science. • Formerly worked in advertising and catering. • B.A. Coastal Carolina University. M.S. Appalachian State University. • Go Gamecocks!

8. Introductions • Stacy Lovdahl – Science Teacher and Science Dept. Chair. • 10 years experience teaching, 3 years at JFMS. • Certified in science. • Formerly worked in environmental and hazardous waste consulting. • B.S. Allegheny College.

9. Introductions • Exceptional Children’s Dept. • Jackie Armstrong • 8 years experience • B.A. Psychology, Masters in Counseling • Graduate of UNC-Wilmington

10. Schedule

11. Academic Academy Science – Cognitive Tutor Mathia Language Arts – Grammar Brush-up Math – Cognitive Tutor Mathia Social Studies – Novel Study

12. Schedule • Academic Team Planning – 10:52 – 12:16 • Plan units and activities • Meet with parents • This is the best time to contact us. • (704) 462-1827

13. Lunch Prices • o Middle School Price $2.10 • o Reduced Lunch Price $.40 • o Lunch consists of five different meal components • Choice of entrée • Choice of vegetables • Choice from fruit or fruit juice • Serving of bread • Choice of milk • A meal must consist of at least three but no more than five of the meal components listed to qualify as a regular priced lunch. • Students may purchase fewer than three items or more than five at individual, ala cart prices.

14. Parent Conferences • Letter will come home to arrange an appointment. • Confirmation will be sent home. • Parent conferences for • PEPs – personal education plans. • AIG – academically and intellectually gifted. • Behavior challenges. • Academic struggles.

15. Parent Volunteers • Volunteers are needed! • Sign up sheet located on the table in the hall. • Mrs. Lovdahl has a link on the website to sign up to volunteer for Science Olympiad and science labs.

16. Lockers • Every student must have a lock. • Combination locks only. • Practice your lock at home before coming to school. • No rolling book bags. • They don’t fit. • They scratch the floors. • Book bags – must be kept in lockers

17. Cell Phones • Off during the school day. • Kept in lockers at all times. • If they are noticed in the classroom or hallways they will be taken away and given back at the end of the day.

18. Dress Code • Detailed information is in the Parent/Student Handbook. • Key Points! • No “sagging, bagging or dragging”. • Shorts must reach the fingertips. • Shirts straps must be 2 fingers wide.

19. Leave this look on the street!

20. Fall Sports • Football • Boys soccer • Girls volleyball • Co-ed cross country • Cheerleading • Girls on the Run (physical not required) • Proof of insurance and current physical required before trying out!

21. Fall Clubs • Future Business Leaders (FBLA) • Jr. Beta • Science Olympiad • Soil & Water Speech Contest • International Club • Yearbook • Art Club • Battle of the Books • Drama Club • Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) • Robotics

22. Team Rules • Show respect. • Be prepared for class. • Be on time. • Be responsible. • Do not bring non-instructional materials to class. (toys, cosmetics, gum, phones) • Food in cafeteria only. • Follow the dress code.

23. Agenda • Students write assignments in their agenda EVERY DAY. • Every teacher posts the assignment on the board EVERY DAY. • Parents may use it to communicate with teachers. • Parents signature nightly – No initials please. We check on Friday.

24. Make Up Work When Absent • The student has 2 extra days to turn in make up work after an absence. • See the teacher, check a reliable friend’s agenda or check the board, or check the website to find out what was missed. • Students are responsible for getting their make up work in on time. • Students checking out early are responsible for missed work.

25. Student Lap Tops • Lap Top Computers are welcome in class. • Homeroom teachers will provide paperwork for registration of your computer. • Teachers will designate how lap top assignments will be turned in on a case by case basis.

26. Team Consequences • Warning • Silent Lunch • Team conference with the student. • Call home to parents. • Parent conference. • Office referral.

27. Rewards • Positive notes and calls home. • Treats and social time. • Special activities • Monthly team social.

28. JAG Tags • Students must carry JAG Tags to every class. • Use as a hall pass. • Demerits are given for breaking school and class rules. • Reasons for demerit will be noted on JAG Tag. • Parent signatures on agenda and Jag Tags will be checked on Friday.

29. Communication = • Agenda • Email • Deborah_Pitts@catawbaschools.net • Ellen_Fountain@catawbaschools.net • Mary_Phillips@catawbaschools.net • Stacy_Lovdahl@catawbaschools.net • Jacqueline_Armstrong@catawba.net • Phone Calls • Website

30. Academic Class Overviews • Academic Class Overviews • Language Arts and Writing – Mrs. Ellen Fountain • Math – Mrs. Debbie Pitts • Social Studies – Mrs. Mary Phillips • Science – Mrs. Stacy Lovdahl

31. Language Arts • Be Prepared. • Every Day Materials • Composition notebook • Binder w/ loose leaf paper • Pencils only! • Agenda • Assignment/Homework • Library Book

32. Independent Reading • All students are required to read independently at home. • 25 minutes/night is required.

33. Library Time • Students are given the opportunity to check out books in the library every two weeks. • This book must be taken to every class.

34. Novel – Literature Units • Novel Studies • Specific Assignments • Optional Study Choices • Long Way From Chicago • Red Scarf Girl • Homeless Bird

35. Homework • 2 – 3 nights/week • Time in class to begin. • Opportunity to get help or clarification in class.

36. Math • Agenda – Parents please sign each night. • Quizzes and Tests • Count 2 times in grade book. • Students should study nightly. • Class Work • Counts 1 time in grade book

37. Math • Homework • Nightly • 20 +/- problems • All homework should be attempted and turned in promptly. • Carnegie Math • Two days a week during Academic Academy for Mathia—Cognitive Tutor

38. Math Notebook • 4 spiral or composition books. • 1/semester • For math work only. • Study notes nightly!

39. Math • Tutoring • Available any time your student needs extra help. • Specific times for morning and afternoon tutoring will be posted and sent home.

40. Social Studies • 5 themes of geography • Movement • Region • Location • Place • Human environmental interaction • Map skills • Cultures of the non-western world

41. Social Studies • Africa • Asia • Australia and New Zealand • Historical causes of current conflicts • Novels and short stories set in countries.

42. Social Studies • Homework and daily grades count one time. • Quizzes count 2 times. • Chapter tests count 3 times. • Projects count 3 times.

43. Supplies • Two Composition books • Colored pencils (shared among classes.) • GLUE STICKS!!!! • Pencils and highlighters • Notebook paper • 1, 3-ring binder (shared among classes.)

44. Science • Scientific Inquiry (Labs and Hands on activities.) • Technology • Motion and Forces • Human Body Systems • Cell Theory & Protists • Genetics and Heredity • Weather and Atmosphere

45. Science Notebook • 2 composition books. • 1/semester • For science only. • The Science Notebook will contain EVERYTHING needed for science. • Study notes nightly!

46. Science Textbook • Science book is on-line at http://sepuplhs.org/middle.html • Username: jacobsforkms2 • Password: slovdahl

47. School Support = • Box Tops for Education • Send 10 Box Tops / sheet • Forms provided by Mrs. Fountain. • Thank you for supporting this program!

48. Communication = • Q & A