Welcome to McLoughlin Middle School’s Frequently Asked Questions Night

1. Welcome toMcLoughlin Middle School’sFrequently Asked Questions Night Panther Pride!

2. Topics This Evening: • Your Administrative Staff • Getting to and from school • The 6th grade schedule • Attendance • PE Clothes • Lunch Money • Fees at school • What is ASB? • Clubs and activities

3. Your Administrative Staff Principal: Mrs. Dominique Dennis 6th Grade Assistant Principal Mrs. Barbara Pierce 7th Grade Assistant Principal Mr. Kim Mahaffey 8th Grade Assistant Principal Mrs. ChrissyBeraza

4. Other Important Staff • Counselors: ~6th grade: Mrs. Sarah Overturf ~7th grade: Mrs. Marsha Dunstan ~8th grade: Ms. Diane Partida Nurse: Mrs. Vickie Wright • Attendance: Ms. Sophie Moore • Testing Facilitator: Mrs. Cindy Johnson • School Psychologist/ Special Education : Mr. Duane Franks

5. Getting To and From School • Bus routes will be printed in the newspaper the weekend prior to school opening, including pickup and drop-off times. • Please allow your child to take the bus to school on the first day. It alleviates much stress on our kids! • If you drop your student off, please use the turn-around by the gym. • If you plan to ride home with a friend, you must have a note stamped in the office at the beginning of the day. The drivers will NOT allow non-assigned students on the bus without this process.

6. About Receiving Schedules… • Washington law requires schools to confirm students’ vaccinations. If you choose not to vaccinate your child, the law states the form must still be signed by your family physician. As soon as we receive the confirmation form, families can receive their schedule. • The office will be open for business this week from 8:00-2:30.

7. The 6th Grade Schedule

8. What is ‘Enhancement’ class? • A 40-minute opportunity for student intervention in reading or math. (period 5) • Students are enrolled by their teachers. • Changes approximately each quarter. • This class may be remediation or enrichment.

9. Health/P.E. (Fitness) Class • Fitness/Health class is mandated by state law. Music students will have Fitness daily for 40 minutes. Non-musicians will have fitness for one semester for 80 minutes. • Our students dress down in dark shorts and a light-colored t-shirt, as well as tennis shoes. • If you choose to purchase a school P.E. uniform (optional), they are available through the front office for $17. (shirt $7 and shorts $10).

10. Exploratory Classes • Our Related Arts programs are designed as an ‘exploratory’ model. That is, students will be assigned those classes with the intent of experiencing as many options as possible throughout their middle school experience. • Music students (band, choir, orchestra) are student-selected year-long exploratory classes. • Non-musicians will rotate through art, woodshop, guitar, world drumming, computers and family/consumer science for 2 quarters.

11. Special Fees at School • If, during related arts, your child has the opportunity to explore art, woodworking or family/ consumer science, those courses have a $10. materials fee. Computers, world drumming, guitar and drama do not have associated costs.

12. Academic Success • You may access your child’s academic progress any time via PowerSchool. Letters with passwords will be sent home the first week of school. • Teachers are asked to update online grade books weekly. • ‘Destination Organization’ is a part of our 6th grade program.

13. Attendance • Regular, on-time attendance at school increases academic success! Learning starts at 7:40 a.m. • When your child is ill, please call the office to let us know. Upon the student’s return, please send a note with him or her to take to the attendance window. • If your child has an absence of more than a day or so, a homework request can be submitted through the attendance office. • Pre-excused absences for out-of-town travel should be arranged the week before the absence through our attendance secretary.

14. Lunch and Lunch Money • Middle School lunch is $2.75 for the 2013-14 school year. Breakfast is $1.50 and milk is 50¢. • We have computerized lunch accounts via ‘mylunchmoney.com’ (No fees! Low account reminders! ) or your child can add funds to their account in the lunch lockbox in the office in an envelope with the student’s name and student number on it. • Please complete reduced-price meal paperwork as quickly as possible at the start of the school year. • 6th grade lunch has a double start to alleviate crowding. All students have a 30-minute period for lunch

15. Free/ Reduced Meal Applications Apply for Free/ Reduced meals online!

16. What is ASB? • Our Associated Student Body supports school extracurricular activities, sports and clubs. • The ASB fee is optional for 6th graders, but provides discounted entry into school socials as well as some district events such as high school football games and music/ drama productions. • Cost is $15. • The ASB is run BY students FOR students. If you think you would eventually like to run for leadership office, make sure your grades are good and your discipline record is clean while at McLoughlin! 

17. Open Clubs and Activities • FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) • Chess Club • Buddy Club • Lunch With Mrs. Pierce • Lunchtime Explore

18. Clubs and Activities by Invitation • Spring Drama Production (by audition) • AMOT (Alpha Men of Tomorrow) • Delta See • Girls on Track • Natural Helpers • Peer Mediators

19. Parents, we need YOU! • Our ATP (Action Team for Partnerships) needs you! Please consider attending our monthly meetings for parent involvement and activities. Mr. CD Williams is our Co-Chair. • Would you like to volunteer your time or services at McLoughlin? Please contact Cindy Johnson.

20. School Socials • Music and dancing in the cafeteria, open gym, team video games, karaoke, arts & crafts • Cost $3-$5.00 • Students must be picked up promptly by 4:30. • WE PARENT CHAPERONES! 

21. Yearbooks • At the end of the year, a school yearbook (or annual) is published. It includes photos of our students and staff, activities, sports and clubs. • Pre-ordered cost: $20 with ASB before Christmas, $25 after Christmas or without ASB. Only pre-orders are guaranteed for delivery, so we suggest you order early!

22. Dress for Success in Pasco Schools • Please keep underwear UNDER your clothes; bra straps included. • Pants should fit at the waist and not have holes in them. • Shorts or skirts need to be at least longer than your fingertips with your arms at your sides. • Shoulders should be covered (no tanks/spaghetti straps). • Slippers & pajamas stay home; save it for spirit days! • No solid color t-shirts in red or blue • T-shirt messages should be school-appropriate

23. Upcoming Events • 8/12: Student schedules mailed out • 8/19-20: Broken Schedule Days (8:30-11:00, 11:30-2:30) • 8/22: Sixth Grade Orientation (6:00) • 8/27: 6th graders start school! • 8/28: 7th & 8th graders’ first day • 9/2: No School (Labor Day) • 9/19: Open House Night (6:30) • 10/4: School picture day School events are also posted on our website calendar.

24. Thank you for coming and see you at orientation next Thursday! Don’t forget to bring your schedule on the evening of the 22nd! 