Welcome to VCMS Middle School 101

1. Welcome to VCMS Middle School 101 April 23, 2013

2. PTO Elections _______________ President- Amy Szvetecz Vice President – Cheryl Kearney Treasurer – Eleanor LoPresti Secretary – Cheryl Hillman Parliamentarian – Julie Smith

3. Local School Council Please email nominations To Mrs. Rohacek. Vote will be at Viper Camp.

4. VCMS101: Agenda • Our Faculty • Supporting our new 6th graders • Our Schedule & Courses • Parent Involvement • Community Involvement • Upcoming transition events • Questions

5. Our Vickery Creek faculty and staff are here to support you! • Kathy Rohacek • Van Lewsader • Karen Ogline • Jean Lipscomb • Mandy Malcolm • Sue Sabo • Amy Ingram

6. VCMS: Faculty VCMS Teachers are… Simply the best!

7. So Many Questions! How do I open my locker? Can I choose classes? Can we choose our lunch time and sit with our friends? When will we get our schedules? Will I get lost? How do we switch classes? How many students are in a class?

8. Our students are the best!

9. Vickery Creek Students • Projected enrollment for 2013-2014 = 1140 Students: 390- 6th graders • We welcome 6th grade students from the following elementary schools: • Cumming • Kelly Mill • Midway • Sawnee • Vickery Creek • Whitlow

10. Supporting our Students • Interdisciplinary Teams • Connect Time - Advisement each Wednesday • Counseling Dept. • PALS • Mentors

11. Preparing your child for middle school Some things are different in middle school • Drop off of forgotten items • Dress Code • Lockers

12. Dropping off forgotten items • In order to limit interruptions to instruction, we do not call into classes to have students retrieve forgotten items such as lunch or schoolwork. • Parents may bring these items and they will be placed on the front counter for their child to pick up. • Parents can email the teacher if an item has been brought to school.

13. Dress Code • Follow the Forsyth County dress code – in the FCSS Code of Conduct • Length of skirts and shorts – fingertip guideline • Backpacks pull up dresses and skirts flip up in back • Kids grow fast! • No skin/holes in pants above fingertip length guideline • Tops – no inappropriate language, tank tops, cleavage, see-through or midriff showing

14. Preparing your child for middle school • Getting ready to use a locker at school • Items to purchase and those to avoid • Sample lockers.....

15. Preparing your child for middle school • As you can see from the examples, there is not a lot of room for extras. Many students who purchase the decorations, quickly learn that other important items don’t fit...like their books and a coat! • Not all lockers shelves fit into our lockers but our PTO sells the right size in the school store and at Viper Camp

16. More tips to prepare your child for middle school • Develop healthy relationships by accepting differences; understand that friendships may change because our students come from six different elementary schools • Limit and monitor social network use. Facebook, etc. tend to exaggerate the typical squabbles and social challenges of middle school students.

17. More tips to prepare your child for middle school • Develop consistent routines with timelines, physical activity and bedtime – computers, phones & TV • Develop a healthy balance between academic expectations and extracurricular activities. • Develop self-discipline and responsibility by establishing strong study habits with a set time and place to study at home every day

18. Vickery Creek Communication • Student Agendas • ANGEL – Changing to itsLearning • Parent and Student Portal • Email • Voice Mail • Call Messenger • Email Messenger

19. Vickery Creek Communication • Website • Facebook and Twitter • PTO Newsletters • Parent Conferences

20. VCMS Schedule • 7 period day – 54 minute periods • 5 Academic classes + 2 Connections • Connect Time once a week • A-B-C weekly rotation • 9 week Connection classes

21. Academics:Meeting the Needs of All Students • Language Arts • Math • Science • Social Studies • Reading, Reading Literacy, or Math Literacy

22. Previewing your child’s courses • Teachers and administrators have reviewed student data to determine the best placement for students. • Parents will be able to view their child’s recommended courses on-line. • We hope to have that feature live by the week of May 20 and be open until May 31. • Instructions will be available on our website starting on May 20.

23. VCMS Connections: • Art • Band • Chorus • Computer Literacy • Drama • Health • Math Plus • Physical Education • Study Skills • Technology

24. Vickery Creek Performing Arts BAND Instrument Tryouts: In August, during the first two weeks of band classes.

25. Vickery Creek Activities • Clubs • Intramurals • Dances • Special Days

26. Vickery Creek Athletics(7th & 8th grade only) • Football • Football Cheerleading • 7TH Grade Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball • 8TH Grade Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball • Basketball Cheerleading • Track • Golf

27. Community Support • Our Parents • Our Business Partners

28. Our Parents • Supportive • Involved • Welcome!

29. Parent to Parent • Finding classrooms • Lockers • Knowing the school • Teachers • Courses • Assignments • Peer Pressure • Communication • Medical notes

30. Vickery Creek Parents Your help is needed and wanted! Other Ways to be Involved • PALS • Media Center • Local School Council • Mentors • Watch D.O.G.S. Dads • Parent Teacher Organization: • Copy Mom/Dad • School Store • Calendar • Dances • Hospitality • Fund Raising • Newsletter • Open House • Special Events- Red Ribbon Week

31. Vickery Creek Business Partners Vickery Creek Middle can give: • Positive publicity • Student talent for your special event • Collaboration on community endeavors • Assistance with special functions

32. Vickery Creek Business Partners Vickery Creek Middle needs: • Assistance with student recognition programs • Support for instructional programs • Support and recognition for staff • Collaboration on special events and community endeavors • Adults willing to mentor students

33. Future Transition Dates • May 15– 5th grade students participate in field trips to VCMS for a guided tour • August 5 –6th grade Viper Camp- 9:30 -11:30 Takes the place of Open House for 6th graders Parents in the gym Students in homeroom August 5:Regular Open House for 7th & 8th graders

34. Viper Camp • Agendas (paid by PTO) • Lockers - $5.00 • Lunch • PE Uniform $20.00 • Supply List • Discipline • Dress Code

35. We are glad you are joining us!

36. Questions?

37. Frequently Asked Questions: When do we get our bus information? Each child has a sticker placed on their agenda with the correct bus information. A transportation representative will also be available at Viper Camp. How do we make schedule changes if we don’t think our child is placed correctly? We make all schedule decisions based on three things: data, classroom performance (report cards) and teacher recommendation. There will be a procedure and forms on our school website if you would like to request a schedule change. However, the data must support the requested change. Do students get to use a locker in PE? Yes. However, students can only use it during that one period and must pay locker fee of $3.00 for the year. Students are strongly encouraged to leave ALL valuables at home or in their regular locker. Can students carry their cell phones with them? Yes. However, unless a teacher is asking students to bring technology to class for an instructional purpose, all cell phones and other devices must be turned off and out of sight. Cell phones should not be taken to PE or in the locker room.

38. More Frequently Asked Questions: 5. Can my student call or text me during the day? Our students are allowed to check their phones for text messages immediately after lunch and right before dismissal. Students are not allowed to call or text parents at any other time of the day. If they need to contact parents, students must ask permission to use the school phone or wait until the designated time. How early can we drop off our student? The front doors will be unlocked at 7:45 and students will be supervised in the cafeteria until the morning bell rings at 8:45 for them to go to homeroom. Where do we find information about clubs? A flyer is available on our school website. Can students carry their inhalers and Epipens? Yes. However, a Care Plan with doctor’s orders must be completed with our school nurse. All medications, including over the counter, must be turned in to the school nurse by an adult, in their original packaging.