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Welcome to Maple School Home of the Mustangs!

Sixth Grade Parent Orientation May 13, 2013

6:30 pm Kate Davidson, Betsy Johnson,

Sam Kurtz, Junyuan Li, Chris Brown, and Nate Carter

Tonight’s Agenda

� Welcome to Maple � Maple Program � Student Support Services � Student Activities � The Important Stuff � Questions

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Expectations for Middle School Students

�  6th Grade: adapting to middle school

�  7th Grade: focus on self-advocacy

�  8th Grade: prep for high school

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Maple Foundations

� Developmental Tasks of Adolescence � Aspects of Middle School Philosophy � Team Format � Block Schedule - “The Maple Way” � Opportunities

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Middle School Philosophy �  Cognitive (thinking skills) + Affective (social/emotional

skills) = Balance for Students

�  Focus on “where kids are at”

�  High academic standards

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Core Block Subject Areas

�  English Language Arts

�  Mathematics

�  Social Studies

�  Science

�  80 minute classes

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Non-blocked Classes

� Allied Arts

� World Language

� Physical Education/Wellness

� 40 minute classes

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World Languages

� French � Mandarin Chinese � Spanish Which one should my

child study?

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Sixth grade has one team of teachers

� 2 Language Arts � 2 Mathematics � 1 Science � 1 Social Studies � 1 Special Education

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Sample Sixth Grade Schedule

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8:30 - 9:54 Language Arts

9:58 - 11:18 Math

11:21 - 12:00 Lunch/Recess

12:03 - 12:42 PE/Wellness

12:45 - 2:06 Social Studies/ Science

2:09 - 2:48 French

2:51 - 3:30 Art

Sixth grade teachers expect… �  …you to help your child to be organized.

�  …students to arrive to school on time.

�  …lockers organized the “Maple Way”.

�  …study skill tips used.

�  …assignment notebooks to be used.

�  …homework completed and turned in on time.

�  …Web pages to be used for homework.

�  …you to ask to see your child’s work.

�  …you to view your child’s progress via the Parent Portal.

�  …communication between home and school.

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Role of Student Support Services

�  Student Support Service Team (Psychologists, Speech/Language Pathologist, Nurse, Teachers, Assistant Principal, and Principal)

�  Work with ALL students

�  Attend grade level/department team meetings

�  Work with students individually or in group

�  Service may be short or long term (RtI services)

�  Crisis intervention, as needed

�  Work with parents re: home issues

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Peer Partners are partners! �  Assist with monthly sixth

grade advisory activities

�  Serve as tutors and mentors

�  Serve as peer mediators

�  Co-lead “newcomers” groups

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Advisory is. . . �  An all-school class

�  Small groups of students

�  Meets twice a week for 20 minutes �  Activities are planned around the themes of the six pillars of “CharacterCounts!”

�  Students participate in service-learning projects �  Students develop communication and discussion skills

�  Students develop personal goals

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Year-long Clubs/Activities

� Intramurals

� Yearbook Club

� Newspaper Club

� Student Council

� Art Club

� Computers

� Science Club

� Debate Club

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Year-long Clubs/Activities

� Digital Cinematography Club � Chorus � Orchestra � International Club � Band � Musical

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Intramural Program

�  Sept-Oct-Nov �  Touch Football �  Kickball �  Dodgeball

�  December-March �  Hockey �  Steal the Bacon �  Dodgeball �  Kickball

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�  April-May �  Softball �  Dodgeball �  Kickball

Interscholastic Athletics

�  Fall �  Cross country 6-8 �  Volleyball Girls 6-8 �  Soccer 7-8

�  Winter �  Wrestling 5-8 �  Basketball 6,7,8 �  Poms 6-8 �  Volleyball Boys 6-8

(Feb-March)

�  Spring �  Softball Girls 6-8 �  Track 6-8

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A current physical exam is required for participation in all athletics.

Get Involved, Be Involved

� Read the calendar on the Maple website!

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Student Recognition

�  Mustang Award

�  Honor Roll

�  PE Student of the month

�  Allied Arts Student of the quarter

�  Athletic Awards

�  World Language Student of the quarter

�  Team Award

�  Greatest Growth

�  Scholastic Award

�  Presidential Excellence

�  American Legion

�  Chorus, Band, Orchestra, Musical

�  Caring Tree Awards

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The Important Stuff �  Summer Packet Pick-up-

August 7th @ Maple �  Advisor’s name, room number �  Other important information

�  Summer Orientation/School Store- August 12th @ Maple �  Locks (PE and hallway = same combination), locker

assignments �  Specific school supplies, band sweaters, PE uniforms,

Sodexo deposits and much more �  Most supplies can be pre-ordered through PTO �  District Summer School Program

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Home School Communication http://www.district30.org/

�  Maple Marquee

�  Curriculum Night

�  Interim Reports

�  Report Cards

�  Parent Teacher Conference

�  Maple Website

�  Telephones in classroom

�  E-mail

�  Teacher Pages

�  Meet with teachers

�  Parent Portal

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Parent Participation at Maple

� Join PTO committee, executive board � Volunteer for Sodexo lunch, special lunch � Lew Blond Run � Operation Snowflake � Musical Committee � Career Day � Graduation Committee � Sixth Grade Dance Class

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The First Day of School- August 22 �  Bring your backpack to take all your books home to be

covered. �  Buses run routes

�  Band practice and performance �  Report to Advisory

�  Sodexo lunch program available �  Students go to all classes

�  Opening School Ceremony-Beginning of the day

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The First Day Cont…

�  Bring school supplies

�  Bring your PE uniform to class

�  Athletic clinics held

�  Activity Bus runs

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End of the first day. . .

�  Kids are tired

�  Teachers are tired

�  Parents are tired

�  Everybody is tired

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Thank you for being here tonight. See you in August!!