MIDDLE SCHOOL 101

Everything you wanted to Everything you wanted to know about know about Maple Creek Maple Creek

Middle SchoolMiddle School but were afraid but were afraid to askto ask

GOALS OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

Provide as safe and smooth a Provide as safe and smooth a transitiontransition as as possible from the small neighbourhood possible from the small neighbourhood elementary school to the large world of the elementary school to the large world of the secondary schoolsecondary school

Assist students in becoming increasingly Assist students in becoming increasingly responsibleresponsible through the three years at MS. through the three years at MS.

We are not the same as a junior high!We are not the same as a junior high!

Welcome to Maple Creek!

Maple Creek Middle School

625 students in grades 6-8625 students in grades 6-8 15 international 120 FI15 international 120 FI 44 teaching staff and 20 support 44 teaching staff and 20 support

staffstaff 6 Teams of approximately 6 Teams of approximately

4 classes per team 4 classes per team

What’s the Focus at Maple Creek? Becoming Becoming Respectful and Socially Respectful and Socially

ResponsibleResponsible Citizens – locally and Citizens – locally and globallyglobally

Making Making Positive Social ConnectionsPositive Social Connections Strong Focus on Strong Focus on Academic Academic

Achievement and safety and Achievement and safety and belongingbelonging

Becoming Respectful and Responsible Citizens

Making Positive Social Connections

Focus on Academic Achievement-Assessment as learning-Differentiated instruction

SIP Goal#1 – Improve reading skills

What are Teams?

School within a schoolSchool within a school Groups of 3-4 classesGroups of 3-4 classes 3-4 core teachers + 1 student services teacher3-4 core teachers + 1 student services teacher Located in same area of the buildingLocated in same area of the building Students spend 5 of 7 blocks each in the team Students spend 5 of 7 blocks each in the team

each day, mainly with one core teachereach day, mainly with one core teacher Grade 8 is a transition yearGrade 8 is a transition year

Teaming Works for Kids…

Teachers plan curriculum Teachers plan curriculum and activities together for the teamand activities together for the team

Teachers within the team ‘share’ studentsTeachers within the team ‘share’ students Goal – every child has several adults to Goal – every child has several adults to

look after and care for them – including the look after and care for them – including the homeroom teacherhomeroom teacher

Student Services Model for the teamStudent Services Model for the team

What will the day look like?

Seven blocks per daySeven blocks per day 40 minutes each block40 minutes each block Five blocks – CORE time within Five blocks – CORE time within

the teamthe team Two blocks – EXPLORATIONS Two blocks – EXPLORATIONS

timetime

  MON TUES WED THURS FRI

HRoom HR HR HR HR HR

1 CORE CORE CORE CORE CORE

2 CORE CORE CORE CORE CORE

Break          

3 EXPL EXPL EXPL EXPL EXPL

4 EXPL EXPL EXPL EXPL EXPL

Lunch          

5 CORE CORE CORE CORE CORE

6 CORE CORE CORE CORE CORE

7 CORE CORE CORE CORE CORE

What subjects will my child take? CORE:CORE:

Language Arts Language Arts MathMathSocial StudiesSocial StudiesScienceScienceFrench as a Second LanguageFrench as a Second Language

Who teaches these subjects?

The majority of core subjects will The majority of core subjects will be taught by the homeroom teacherbe taught by the homeroom teacher

Sometimes, another teacher on the Sometimes, another teacher on the team will trade subject areas with team will trade subject areas with the homeroom teacherthe homeroom teacher

-Math Curriculum -Math Curriculum

Blended Classes

Grade six and seven students in all classes at this Grade six and seven students in all classes at this levellevel

Differentiated instruction, bell curve and A/B yearDifferentiated instruction, bell curve and A/B year Students usually spend two years with the same Students usually spend two years with the same

core teacher “looping”core teacher “looping” Students, teachers and families all get to know Students, teachers and families all get to know

each othereach other Grade Seven students act as mentors to younger Grade Seven students act as mentors to younger

students each fallstudents each fall

What are Explorations?

Not the same as electivesNot the same as electives Designed to give kids a ‘taste’ of what they Designed to give kids a ‘taste’ of what they

might want to pursue in secondary school…might want to pursue in secondary school… Taught mainly by specialist teachers – Taught mainly by specialist teachers –

Maple Creek has four specialist teachers Maple Creek has four specialist teachers who are all trained in their areawho are all trained in their area

Explorations Subjects…

PE – all year every second dayPE – all year every second day Drama and Art – half year every Drama and Art – half year every

second daysecond day Music, Computers, Tech Ed, Home Music, Computers, Tech Ed, Home

Ec (Cooking and Sewing), 8 full Ec (Cooking and Sewing), 8 full weeks eachweeks each

General Music

DRAMA

ART

Home Economics

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

It all looks like a lot of fun, but do they ever do any homework Students will be assigned homework on a Students will be assigned homework on a

regular basisregular basis On average, around 45 minutes per nightOn average, around 45 minutes per night Dependent on how much work gets done in Dependent on how much work gets done in

class, projects, etc.class, projects, etc. Homework will be recorded on the board each Homework will be recorded on the board each

day day Beginning of the year – agendas signedBeginning of the year – agendas signed School Website – class websitesSchool Website – class websites

What Support Services are Available? Full time student services teacher for each teamFull time student services teacher for each team

Learning AssistanceLearning AssistanceESLESLGifted ProgrammingGifted ProgrammingResourceResource

Full time counsellorFull time counsellor Full time youth workerFull time youth worker

Extra-Curricular

GET INVOLVED in a least one activityGET INVOLVED in a least one activity Something for everyone – “niche”Something for everyone – “niche” Bring a friend – you don’t have to know Bring a friend – you don’t have to know

how to do something in order to join that how to do something in order to join that activityactivity

Bring your positive attitudeBring your positive attitude ……..”but, I’m not strong at…..”..”but, I’m not strong at…..”

Athletics

Teacher volunteers, rely on parent supportTeacher volunteers, rely on parent support

FALL – Volleyball, swimming, Mtn. Biking, Outdoor FALL – Volleyball, swimming, Mtn. Biking, Outdoor club (year round), cross country running, Field club (year round), cross country running, Field Hockey, football.Hockey, football.

WINTER – Basketball, Wrestling, Ski and WINTER – Basketball, Wrestling, Ski and SnowboardSnowboard

SPRING – Track and Field, Mtn. Biking, SPRING – Track and Field, Mtn. Biking, Badminton, RugbyBadminton, Rugby

NO CUT POLICYNO CUT POLICY

Athletics

Grade Six – Co-Ed Non-Competitive

CLUBS AND GAMES

Lunch Time

We are a CLOSED CAMPUSWe are a CLOSED CAMPUSNo ‘in’ and ‘out’ daysNo ‘in’ and ‘out’ daysResponsibilityResponsibilityIntramurals…Intramurals…

Choir

Band

Spring Musical

Student Leadership

The Cafeteria…

GET INVOLVEDLibrary, Green Team, Hawk Krew (numerous opportunities)Debate club, Games Club, Math Club, Yearbook, committees, me to we, …..there is something for everyone to meet new people and get connected with the school.

Intramural Program…

How Safe is Maple Creek?

School Goal – continue to improve students’ sense School Goal – continue to improve students’ sense of safety and belongingof safety and belonging

This is a core value – this year we will be focusing This is a core value – this year we will be focusing on a strand of social responsibilityon a strand of social responsibility We constantly try to work on improving We constantly try to work on improving

Ministry Satisfaction Surveys – we always score Ministry Satisfaction Surveys – we always score above the district and provincial averages on above the district and provincial averages on safety related questionssafety related questions

What about Bullying?

We take it seriouslyWe take it seriously We follow up on every incident that is reported to usWe follow up on every incident that is reported to us We educate our kids about bullying through our We educate our kids about bullying through our

advisory program, schoolwide programming and advisory program, schoolwide programming and teachable momentsteachable moments

We ‘protect’ kids who report bullying to the best of We ‘protect’ kids who report bullying to the best of our abilityour ability

BIGGEST CHALLENGE – kids who don’t report, BIGGEST CHALLENGE – kids who don’t report, “the code of silence”“the code of silence”

Class Placements

Goal – to create the most positive Goal – to create the most positive placement for every studentplacement for every student

Challenges – 440 Grade 6/7 students to Challenges – 440 Grade 6/7 students to place in the puzzleplace in the puzzle

Grade balance, gender balance, ability Grade balance, gender balance, ability balance, matching learning and teaching balance, matching learning and teaching styles, pre-existing social and relationship styles, pre-existing social and relationship issuesissues

Transition to Middle School…

P and VP have met with all grade five students for initial P and VP have met with all grade five students for initial orientation session twiceorientation session twice

Currently meeting with all grade five parentsCurrently meeting with all grade five parents Open HouseOpen House Fine Arts AfternoonFine Arts Afternoon Mid-May – teacher meetings and second visit with studentsMid-May – teacher meetings and second visit with students World wide band tourWorld wide band tour June – Student tour of Maple CreekJune – Student tour of Maple Creek Individual visits and arrangementsIndividual visits and arrangements

We look forward to having you join us!!