The Tiger Way

1. The Tiger Way Where High Achievement and 21st Century Skills prepare Glen Rose Junior High students to become the leaders of tomorrow.

2. Glen Rose Junior High Vision To create a campus of academic excellence, Glen Rose Junior High School, in partnership with parents and community, will inspire and challenge all students to value and engage in learning to achieve high levels of success.

3. Glen Rose Junior High Students will • Develop the ability to analyze situations • Set individual learning goals • Develop and implement strategies to meet their goals • Work independently • Work collaboratively • Solve problems • Develop intellectual curiosity

4. School Day • Building opens at 7:25 a.m. • School starts at 7:55 a.m. and ends at 3:20 p.m. • Tutorials: 7:30-7:50 a.m. or 3:20-4:10 • Tutorial Bus: Arrives at 4:10 p.m. (Back circle drive) • All students should be off campus by 4:20 unless involved in a school activity and under direct sponsor/staff supervision.

5. COMMUNICATION TOOLS • District call-out • Email • Text • Twitter • Parent/Guardian Conference • School Mailer • Glen Rose Junior High Website and Calendar • District Website and Calendar • Gradebook- parent/guardian email • Phone Call • Blackboard- student email Note: If you have a change in email, phone number, and/or address, please contact the school office.

6. GRJH Bell schedule • Students will change classes 7 periods each day. • Each class period is 55 minutes in length. The exception is 2nd period. 2nd period is 60 minutes in length due to pledge and announcements. • 4 minutes between each class period. • Bell schedule is posted in each classroom and on the GRJH website. • 2 bell schedules- Regular and Tiger Time

7. STUDENT LOCKERs • Each student will have an assigned locker. • We strongly recommend each student purchase a combination or key lock for their locker. This will allow for the student’s items to remain secure. • Provide the front office with a copy of the key or combination. If we do not have this information and we need to get in the locker, we will need to cut the lock off. • Students should not provide other students with their lock information. • Students should not share lockers or change lockers. • Students will not have time to go to their locker every class period.

8. VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL • All visitors must report to the main office and sign in upon entering the campus. • Visitors will be issued a badge to wear for the duration of their visit. • No student visitors will be allowed in classrooms. • Please make appointments to see teachers and other personnel. • Parents/Guardians may eat lunch with their own student. A table has been designated for visitors.

9. STUDENT ABSENCE/notes • When sick or absent for any reason, a note is required within three days of the absence. The note should be taken to the front office between 7:25-7:55 or during 2nd period announcements. • If a note is not received within three days after returning to school, the absence will remain unexcused and appear as such on the report card.

10. LEAVING SCHOOL EARLY? • If you need to check your child out early from school, the parent/guardian will need to come to the front office and sign your student out. You may be asked to show proper ID. • A note must be provided when the student returns to school. • When a student is absent, the student is marked absent for each class period missed. (Note: Elementary and Intermediate only mark and absence if a student is not present at 10 a.m.)

11. STUDENT NOT FEELING WELL • Students who become ill during the school day must report to the school nurse. Students should not text or call their parent/guardian until the student has met with the school nurse. • All medications must be kept in the clinic and administered by the nurse. All medications must be in the original container as dispensed by a health professional.

12. Student expectationstardies • 3 tardies = 1 unexcused absence • 1st Tardy- Teacher records tardy in the grade book. • 2nd Tardy- Teacher records tardy, conferences with student, and calls the parent. • 3rd Tardy- Teacher calls parent and issues a detention. • 4th Tardy- Teacher refers to the campus administrator. (Office Referral)

13. Student expectationstutorials • Student’s have opportunity to attend tutorials before school or after school. • A building tutorial schedule will be available after the second week of school. • The tutorial schedule will be posted on the Glen Rose Junior High Website. • Each teacher will provide the students with the teacher’s individual tutorial schedule.

14. Student Expectationsacademic honesty • Cheating is defined as sharing homework or other assignments, allowing for homework or other assignments to be copied, allowing another individual to complete homework, sharing answers during a quiz or test, or plagiarism. Zeros for grades will result for incidences involving academic dishonesty.

15. Student cell phones • All student cell phones must be turned off/silenced and out of sight during the class time (tardy bell to dismissal bell). Cell phones may only be used during class time if the teacher gives permission for use. • Students may turn on/look at cell phones to check time or check messages during their scheduled lunch time only. Students may not text or call during this time. • All cell phones in use, heard or in sight during class time will be confiscated by the staff member and taken to the school office. A parent/guardian must come to the front office to retrieve the phone.

16. Other Electronic Devices • All other electronic devices such as iPods, MP3 players, etc. may be used at the students lunch time only. • These devices may not be used during class time unless permitted by the teacher for instructional purposes. • Any confiscated items must be retrieved by the parent/guardian.

17. ELECTRONICS- THE DISCLAIMER • Glen Rose ISD/Glen Rose Junior High is not responsible if any device is lost or damaged while in the school or in possession of a district employee.

18. GRISD DRESS CODE HIGHLIGHTS • Shorts/skirts meet fingertips. (All the way around). • No hats, caps, bandannas, hoods or sunglasses indoors. • No clothes with holes/tears or frayed. • No tank tops, spaghetti straps etc.

19. BREAKFAST & LUNCH • Breakfast is available in the cafeteria from 7:30-7:50 a.m. • Lunch is held in two 30 minute lunch shifts between 11:00- 12:50. Each student is provided a 30 minute lunch period daily. • When the Junior High is using an alternate bell schedule, lunch times will change. Please check the campus website or ask your child.

20. Student expectations- dress code • Glen Rose ISD district dress code policy is available for viewing on the district and junior high websites. • Students out of compliance will go to the front office for a change of clothes and return to class ASAP. • Rule of Thumb: If you are unsure if the article of clothing is within dress code, it probably is not.

21. BAD WEATHER DAYS • If a decision is made to cancel classes/close school or have a late start because of bad weather, the following avenues will be used for communications: • Major network televisions • District web site • District call-out

22. This is a great transition • Maintain your sense of humor! • Choose your battles wisely. • Allow your child to begin solving problems on their own. (Maintain involvement while keeping a balance.) • Listen to your child. • Together this will be a great 3 years!

23. Transitioning to junior high • Students have a different teacher for each subject. • Junior high can be stressful for your child. Make sure your child eats healthy foods, exercises regularly, and gets enough sleep. • During the junior high years, your child will be practicing independence from you. This is normal. However, as a parent/guardian, your child needs for you to remain involved.

24. Transitioning to junior high • What the research tell us: • Decline in academic achievement for those students that are not academically motivated. • Achievement scores may be affected by the context of transition to middle school. • Satisfaction of school life declines from elementary to secondary grades, especially during the transition to junior high. This decline occurs regardless of academic ability.

25. What changes? Physical Social Have a strong need to belong. Moving toward peer acceptance. May choose friends over parents to confide in and solve problems. Moving toward independence. • Body changes • Need more food and sleep • Varying maturity rates • Concern about appearance • Personal Hygiene & Nutrition • Experience restlessness/fatigue • Need daily physical activity

26. What changes? COGNITIVE • Preteen concrete thinkers (black & white) • Maturity- understanding complex issues, even when they don’t agree • You may see more arguing- rationalizing their needs • Arguing becomes more sophisticated-wears you down!

27. What changes? EMOTIONAL • Same hormones for physical bring on emotional changes (mood swings).

28. Tips to help your child be successful Research shows that involved parents/guardians are the difference between students that succeed in school and students that struggle. • Attend school events and activities. • Understand your child’s schedule & classes. • Know each teacher’s expectations. • Check teachers’ Blackboard for HW, calendar of activities, curriculum units, and resources.

29. Tips to help your child be successful cont. • Contact teachers first with questions about expectations, problems, or for extra help. • Set a regular time to complete homework. • Ensure your child has a place to study. • Check your child’s HW for completion. • Monitor your child’s grades in Gradebook. • Try to connect outside experiences to school learning to increase interest and relevance.

30. Tips to help your child be successful cont. • Make sure your child arrives to school on time each day. • Make sure your child attends school everyday. • When possible, schedule doctor appointments afterschool or during school holidays.

31. Tips your child can do to be successful • Attend school regularly. • Be prepared for class each day (materials & brain)! • Get plenty of rest and eat healthy foods. • Understand teachers’ expectations. • Be focused and attentive in class. • Record homework assignments on a calendar.

32. Tips your child can do to be successful • Study for tests. Do not wait till the last minute to study for tests or complete projects. • Ask for help when needed. • Attend tutorials as needed. • Turn work in on time. • Do nightly homework.

33. Northwest Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress Assessment

34. Measures of Academic Progress • During the 2012-2013 school year Glen Rose Junior High School implemented the Northwest Evaluation Association assessment titled Measures of Academic Progress (MAP). • MAP tests are achievement measures given fall, winter, and spring in the areas of reading, mathematics, general science, and science concepts and processes.

35. Measure of Academic Progress- components • The assessment is administered on the computer and adjusts to each student’s performance. • MAP tests are computer generated for each individual student and automatically adjusts to the child’s performance level. • The difficulty of each question is based on how well the student answered all the previous questions. • As the student answers correctly, the questions become more difficult.

36. Measures of academic progress- components cont. • If the student answers incorrectly, the questions become easier. • MAP will provide measures of growth over time which other testing does not. • Scores are reported in RIT’s that is independent of grade. This means a child’s score in 6th grade can be compared in 8th grade. • Detailed information on each student’s strengths and deficiencies will help target instruction.

37. Measures of academic progress- components cont. • Students will be provided goal setting worksheets to record their results. • Students will set goals for each test. • Students will determine how they will meet their goal for the next testing session.

38. Measures of academic progress- final thought • The data received from the assessment can be used to guide instruction in the classroom to maximize student learning. • As with all assessments, individual MAP scores represent performance on one test, on one day. Multiple measures and trends over time will provide a more accurate picture of student achievement and growth.

39. MEASURES OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS- map • Northwest Evaluation Website:http://www.nwea.org/ • MAP Overview:http://www.nwea.org/products-services/assessments/help-all-kids-learn • Formative Assessment Item Bank: http://www.nwea.org/products-services/assessments/formative-assessment-item-bank • Parent Toolkit: http://images.pcmac.org/SiSFiles/Schools/TX/GlenRoseISD/GRJrHigh/Uploads/DocumentsCategories/Documents/MAP%20Parent%20Toolkit.pdf (Located at GRJH Website)

40. Volunteer opportunities • WATCHDOG Organization: Calling all dads! WATCHDOG Kick-Off will be held on Sunday, September 8th at 3 pm. Location: Tiger Arena • School Field Trips • School Dances • Tutoring • PTA • All potential volunteers must complete the district background check.