CROSSROADS MIDDLE SCHOOL SIXTH GRADE PARENT ORIENTATION Welcome to Crossroads!

CROSSROADS MIDDLE SCHOOL

SIXTH GRADEPARENT ORIENTATION

Welcome to Crossroads!

6th Grade Units

7th/8th Grade Units

ApolloUnit

AuroraUnit

PhoenixUnit

ChiUnit

OmegaUnit

GammaUnit

DeltaUnit

AlphaUnit

BetaUnit

6th Grade Units

7th/8th Grade Units

Comets Unit

Neptune Unit

Polaris Unit

KappaUnit

SigmaUnit

ZetaUnit

TauUnit

ThetaUnit

RhoUnit

Crossroads NorthCrossroads North Crossroads SouthCrossroads South

Assistant Principal for 7th/8th Grade Hinson

Principal FamousPrincipal FamousPrincipal DanielsPrincipal Daniels

DeanS.P.S.

CounselorsC.S.T.

Dean S.P.S.

CounselorsC.S.T.

Special Ed.Supervisor

Math/ScienceSupervisor

MusicSupervisor

EncoreSupervisor

L.A. / S.S.Supervisor

World Lang.Supervisor

Health/P.E.Supervisor

TechnologyCoordinator

Assistant Principal for 6th GradeKmiec

Extra Curricular / Athletics

Club 678Fehte

Crossroads Middle School 2014-2015

SHARED

STAFF

CROSSROADS MIDDLE SCHOOL STRUCTURE

Three 6th Grade UnitsApproximately

125 students per unit

Unit Names

NORTH: Comets, Neptune, PolarisSOUTH: Apollo, Aurora, Phoenix

CORE UNIT SUBJECTS

LANGUAGE ARTS•Literature •Writing MATHSCIENCESOCIAL STUDIES

Units:5 Core Subjects

Changing Classes and Teachers

Sixth Grade Language ArtsLiterature Studies: Core Novels (Crash; Of Beetles and Angels; Jackaroo;Flush; Gathering Blue)

Non-Fiction / Informational Text•USE OF EVIDENCE FROM TEXT TO SUPPORT IDEAS•CLOSE READING OF COMPLEX TEXT

Literature CirclesIndependent Reading (P.A.T.T.E.R.N.S.)Read-AloudShort StoriesMythologyPoetry

Summer Reading

•Summer Reading List and Assignment: sent home by elementary school and posted on the Crossroads website at www.sbschools.org.

• Summer Reading Challenge:• http://www.scholastic.com/summer/

INDEPENDENT READING PROGRAM: PATTERNS

Parents And Teachers Together, Encouraging the Reading of Nonfiction and NovelS

NOVELIST Database found in EBSCOhttp://search.ebscohost.com

North user name: S9769288

password: password

Southuser name: crossroads

password: vikings

Writing / Composition Studies:

•Writing Process and On-Demand•Compose in all Genres: Expressive / Narrative, Argumentative / Persuasive,

Informational / Expository, Poetry

USE OF EVIDENCE FROM TEXT TO SUPPORT IDEAS

•Conventions of Language and Author’s Craft, using

mentor texts and applications of compositionalrisk.

•Word Study

•Grammar, Usage, Mechanics, Spelling

* Language Arts Instructional Support for selected students

Sixth Grade Social Studies:

World History & Ancient Civilizations to 1600

Era 1: India, China, Greece, Rome

Era 2: Byzantine/Muslim, Africa, China/Japan, Middle Ages, The Americas

Sixth Grade Language Arts and Social Studies Assessments

Social Studies•Era Pre- and Post-Tests•Essay, comprehension, and project-based assessments•Research

Language Arts•PARCC (spring) •Essay, comprehension, and project-based assessments•Grammar Pre and Post Assessments•Word Study Assessments (end of trimester)•Research

6th Grade Mathematics

•Common Core Mathematics Standards:• Ratios and Proportional Relationships• The Number System• Expressions and Equations• Geometry• Statistics and Probability

•6th Grade math courses:• Unit Mathematics• Transitions Mathematics

•Math placements are based on the following data:• Math Matrix • End of 5th Grade Test/5th Grade accelerated

final• 6th Grade Placement TestThe NJASK Test – Both Math and Language Arts

* Math Instructional Support for selected students

6th Grade Science Program

Students follow the NJCCCS for science•Scientific Practices•Physical Science•Life Science•Earth Science

Four Major Units over the course of the year:•Geology•Astronomy•Phylogenetics•Systems

Enrichment opportunities:•6th Grade Science Fair

•

• Encore Classes – Art Integration, Music Integration, Health, Digital Tools 1

• Physical Education - Team Sports, Individual Sports, and Lifelong Activities

• Common Time – School-wide one day per week, chorus and access to teacher support

World Language - Spanish, French, or Latin

Beyond the Core

A Student’s Typical Week

•Interscholastic Athletics- Sports Program open to 7/8 Grade Students

•Extracurricular Activities – Club Program open to All Grade Levels

All clubs and activities are pay-to-participate using CommunityPass

School Musical Mini Med SchoolForensics Club Math Counts Team

Photography Club Special Olympics Club

Art Club Academic Challenge Teams

Online School Newspaper Odyssey of the Mind Teams

Chess Club Student Council

Flag Football Indoor Soccer

Volleyball Ski Trips

Tennis Club Cricket Club

Instruction in all of our MUSICAL PERFORMING GROUPS is aligned

with the 2009 NJCCCS

All of our choirs, orchestras, and bands are comprised of students from all three grades.

Crossroads Music Program

All groups that rehearse before or after school are subject to a $75.00 Pay-to-Participate fee.

Vocal Performing Groups• Treble Choir rehearses during Common Time• Concert Choir rehearses during Common

Time• Vocal Ensemble, Men’s Ensemble, Women’s

Ensemble, and Hand Bell Choir rehearses beyond the school day.

NOTE: Vocal Ensemble is an auditioned group. Interested students will be screened by the instructor.

Each of these groups is a graded class. Your child's participation in evening concerts is required.

Instrumental Music Groups Concert Orchestra

Symphonic Orchestra Concert Band

Symphonic BandJazz Band

Jazz Ensemble

Students are placed in a group based on a screening and/or teacher recommendation.

All groups that rehearse before or after school are subject to a $75.00 Pay-to-Participate fee.

Each of these groups is a graded class. Your child's participation in evening concerts is required.

Homework •45-90 minutes as a nightly expectation. •Agendas

After School Program • Club 6/7/8 – Community Education

Reporting System • Electronic Mid-trimester Progress Reports• Report Cards/Year (3) • Letter Grade System• Parent Connect Online Grade Book – Early August

SPS (Student Personnel Services) • Health Office, Counselors• Child Study Team

General Information

Communications•Friday Folder & Friday E-Mail•Daily Announcements (AM/PM)•Daily Bulletin in PowerSchool•Parent Conferences Fall – Spring •Joint PTO (North and South)•School Website

Lockers • Hallway/Gym

Lunch 30 Minutes; Middle School Menu; ID Card

Arrival & Dismissal•8:10 (N) or 8:15 (S) Homeroom Bell•3:05 (N) or 3:10 (S) Dismissal Bell•5:15 Late Bus (Monday - Friday)

General Information

Health Concerns

•Required Immunizations for 6th Graders•Special Health Concerns•Medication Policy•Absences and Gym Notes•Helping Your Child Make Good Nutritional Choices in Middle School

Placement into Units Based on Criteria• Balance in Numbers • Heterogeneous Grouping • Gender Balance• Learning/Teaching Styles • Assessment Information • Parent Requests - Additional information about your child, learning style, connections with other students or conflicts• Send via e-mail to the building principal on or before June 30, 2014

Summer Communication• End of June with Report Card – Math Placement • Late August: parents will receive unit via Family ConnectSTUDENT PLACEMENT

CLOSING THOUGHTS...

• CODE OF CONDUCT

• SCHOOL CLOTHES

• SCHOOL SUPPLIES

• CELL PHONES

• ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• SNACKS