WELCOME TO SEVENTH GRADE AND THE TOPCAT TEAM

1. WELCOME TO SEVENTH GRADE AND THE TOPCAT TEAM PRIDE drives FVMS!

2. SHOW YOURBENGAL PRIDE • P PREPARATION • R RESPECT • I INTEGRITY • D DETERMINATION • E EXCELLENCE

3. TEACHERS ON THE TOPCATTEAM Mrs. Pam Clemente - Mathematics and Team Leader Mrs. Vicki Powell- Language Arts Mr. Brent Ginn–Social Studies Mr. Roy Corpening-Science Ms. Heather Harpst- Mathematics, Curriculum Assistance, Resource Mrs. Teresa Fish - Language Arts; Curriculum Assistance Mr. Alvin Morman - Guidance Counselor

4. CHECK IT OUT! • http://FVMS7g.com Seventh Grade Web site with links to each team. You can find: Team/school announcements • Daily homework assignments • Upcoming events and due dates • Course Documents • Teachers’ e-mail addresses • Access to online textbooks • Remediation/enrichment Web sites

5. What do seventh graders study?

6. SCOSStandard Course of Study Common Core • All classes follow the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. • A copy is available on line from WCPSS and/or the NC Department of Public Instruction.

7. Integers Decimals and Fractions Equations, Expressions, InequalitiesRatios, Rates, and Proportional Reasoning Statistics and Data AnalysisGeometry Problem Solving is emphasized throughout the curriculum. Homework will be assigned every day including Friday. To receive credit, all work must be completed in pencil with all steps shown in the homework notebook.

8. Math Homework Completion • Homework completion will be recorded in student agendas. • Homework is a maximum of 20 points per day. (100 per week) • Check Plus-Complete • Check - Homework is mostly complete • Check Minus-Partial Completion • Zero-Not completed

9. Curriculum – the LA curriculum is broken down into six thematic units. • SIX UNIT PROJECTS - WILL COUNT AS MAJOR GRADES. • Reading: Fiction and nonfiction • 40 BOOK CHALLENGE—Daily reading • Vocabulary: Stems and literary terms • Expect homework every night.

10. SCIENCE • Topcatswill have science 45 minutes each day with Mr. Corpening. • Topics to be discussed: • Atmosphere • Genetics • Human Body • Physics

11. SOCIAL STUDIES • Topcatswill have Social Studies for 45 minutes each day with Mr. Ginn. • Topics to be discussed: Exploration/Colonization American and French Revolution Industrialism World Wars I, II and the Cold War Human Rights

12. How will student, parents, and teachers determine what has been learned?

13. WCPSS BENCHMARK TESTS Benchmark Tests will be given regularly in Mathematics, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies. These tests allow opportunity for assessment of seventh grade skills for the purpose of identifying students’ mastery of particular skills.

14. EOG and MSL Testing • End of Grade testing will be given at the end of the year for language arts and math. • MSL – Measures of Students Learning will be given at the end of the year for science and social studies. • On Blackboard there are many links for students to practice skills.

15. GRADING POLICY Our goal at Fuquay-Varina Middle School is to instill mastery of all material. Work is expected to be turned in on time. 50% - MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS 35% - INTERMEDIATE ASSIGNMENTS 15% - MINOR ASSIGNMENTS Working together we can ensure that every student is successful.

16. Team Assignments’ Policy • Homework is expected to be completed as assigned. • Morning Tutoring in gym area is an opportunity for students to make up missing or incomplete assignments.

17. Academic help is available before school every morning from 7th grade teachers in the gym area. Academic help is available after school on Wednesday in the Topcat team area from 3:00 to 4:00. Students must have a signed note in their agenda to stay after school. Students should not leave the team area prior to after-school tutoring.

18. Grades Online @ Home Base • At FVMS, students and parents are able to access their grades online through a county-wide system called Home Base/Power School. • See: http://www.wcpss.net/Home Base • In order to view grades online, parents must have completed one of two forms: 1. Photo form (registration available tonight) • Please take a moment right now to complete the form and place your ID Card on top. • One of us will come around to confirm your registration for Home Base. 2. Public notarized form

19. INTERIM REPORTS will be printed and sent home. • Please be aware that Home Base/Power School is updated regularly but teachers need time to grade, record assignments and follow up on missing work.

20. What materials do seventh graders need to be successful?

21. Supply Lists were printed on the letter recently mailed home. If you did not get one, extras are available in each classroom.

22. Additional Supplies We would appreciate parents sending supplies that are on our wish list. We especially need AAA batteries, tissues, disinfecting wipes, etc. Thank you in advance for providing these items.

23. BINDERS • All students at FVMS are encouraged to use the one-binder system of organization. • Bring your binder to school every day. • Organize your binder daily. • Keep papers filed in the correct sections. • Come to school prepared with homework and necessary supplies.

24. What do seventh graders have to do to be successful?

25. Store all bags and electronics in your locked locker. Electronics should be off and out of sight from 8:15-3:00 If taken from students, parents may pick up the item from the front office after school. Never share your locker combination.

26. KEEP YOUR AGENDA HANDY AT ALL TIMES. Teachers will sign agendas regularly. Your FVMS Agenda is also your hall/bathroom pass. Do not tear out or fold pages in agenda. Parents should sign agendas daily.

27. Follow your schedule and arrive to class on time. If a teacher’s door is closed or class has begun, you are LATE.

29. Cafeteria • Your lunch number is your student ID number. • Students will be sitting in assigned seats until free seating is earned by appropriate cafeteria behavior. • Eating breakfast and lunch can help your concentration and attention in class. • Make wise food choices.

30. BATHROOM POLICY Schedule your bathroom time: Before school, before electives and before/during Lunch in the cafeteria Students are allowed one emergency out-of-class bathroom visit per day. Use your agenda to obtain permission. Fill out the hall pass request before asking permission .

31. CELL PHONES • DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, ALL devices SHOULD BE OFF AND OUT OF SIGHT unless being used for instruction. If a student is using the phone without permission, then the phone will be taken and parents will have to pick it up in the office.

32. GUM FREE ZONE Please do not bring gum to school.

33. LOCKERS LOCKERS ARE ASSIGNED and homeroom teachers will be giving combinations to students very soon.

34. TEAM DISCIPLINE POLICY • 1st Time—Warning • 2nd Time---Time out to another team classroom. • Parent contact will be made after the 2nd time.

35. Repeated offenses will result in Chill Out and/or an Administrative Referral. “Rule of thumb” for inappropriate behavior: If a student is keeping the teacher from teaching or another student from learning, then action has to be taken.

36. VOLUNTEER SIGN UP • We will need parent volunteers during the year. • If you were approved through WCPSS last year, you will NEED TO REACTIVATE YOUR APPLICATION ASAP IN THE MEDIA CENTER. • If you were not a volunteer last year, we would like for you to complete the on-line registration if you want to volunteer, PRIOR TO OCTOBER 31, 2013. You may do this tonight on the computers in the Media Center.

37. SHOW YOURBENGAL PRIDE • P PREPARATION • R RESPECT • I INTEGRITY • D DETERMINATION • E EXCELLENCE

38. If you need to see this power point again, it will be posted on our TEAM BLACKBOARD. www.fvms7g.com Click: Staff Listing Click: Individual Teacher’s name