1. Barrington Middle School Parent Orientation April 8, 2014 2014 – 2015

2. The BMS Learning Community is Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed!

3. Today, I will give nothing less than my personal best!

4. Empowering all Students to Excel!

5.  Nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School  NELMS Spotlight School  N.E. Leadership Academy Training Site  R.I. Principal of the Year – Mr. Richard Wheeler (former Principal)  AMGEN Science Teacher – Mr. Anthony Borgueta  R.I. Physical Ed. Teacher of the Year – Ms. Annmarie Marino  East Bay News Teacher of the Year – Mr. Peter McFarland  Barrington Public School Teacher of the Year- Mr. Peter McFarland BMS Recognitions- Past

6. RI Daughters of the American Revolution Outstanding Teacher of American History Award- Mrs. Mary Roberts Honorable Mention in the RI State Elks Americanism Essay Contest- Nicholas Figueroa Eastern Division Champions- Girl’s Basketball Team State Robotic Champions- Team Overflow Model CO2 Dragster Champions- Jack Hoder, Rob McGarry, Conor Mc Gartoll Bridge Building Champions- Andrew Cooke and Theenash Kumar First Place Robotics- Team Technologic 2 nd Place at Math Counts State Championships- Math Counts Team BMS Recognitions- Present

7. ? BMS Recognitions- Future

8.  Principal- Andrew Anderson  Asst. Principal - Wendy Parente  6 th Grade Counselor - Lori Mason  7 th Grade Counselor - Natalie Stein  8 th Grade Counselor - Sandy McCauley  School Nurse - Janet Johnson  Psychologist- Maggy Bell  Social Worker- Courtney Canario  Secretaries - Amy Skadberg and Caron Martin Introductions

9.  PTO Co-Presidents- Lisa Mc Gartoll, Deb Perugini  Aqua Cluster (Loop)- Peter McFarland, Mary Roberts, Abigail Williams  Silver Cluster - Connie Oswald, Jennifer Scott, Gregory Simkins,Traci Taglione  Yellow Cluster - Kelsey Greineder, Christopher Millard, Danielle Teoli, Julia Texeira Introductions

10.  What is a Middle Schooler?  Typical Transition Issues  BMS Transition Program  BMS Mission  Typical Day/Schedule  RTI: Academic Supports  Positive Culture Initiative  Afterschool Activities  Home-to-school Partnership/Communication  Q and A Panel Discussion Agenda

11. What is a Middle Schooler? What is a middle schooler? I was asked one day. I knew what he was, But what should I say?

12. She is noise and confusion. She is silence that is deep. She is sunshine and laughter, Or a cloud that will weep.

13. He is swift as an arrow. He is a waster of time. He wants to be rich, But can not save a dime.

14. She is rude and nasty. She is polite as can be. She wants parental guidance. But fights to be free.

15. He is awkward and clumsy He is graceful and poised He is ever changing But do not be annoyed

16. She is aggressive and bossy. She is timid and shy. She knows all the answers, But still will ask “why”.

17. What is a middle schooler? I was asked one day. He is the future unfolding, So don’t stand in his way. An eighth grade student

18. THE EMPEROR MOTH One day a man found the cocoon of an emperor moth. He took it home so that he could watch the moth come out of the cocoon. He sat and watched the moth struggling to force his body through a very, little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could. It just seemed to be stuck. Then the man, being kind, decided to help the moth. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The moth then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. He expected that the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the little moth spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. A few days later, it died. What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the moth to get through the tiny opening was nature’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the moth into its wings so that it would be ready for flight. Freedom and flight would only come after the struggle. By depriving the moth of a struggle, he deprived the emperor moth of health. You see, the struggles of life, heartaches and pains are necessary if you want to be great. Instead of cursing them, understand them while you are experiencing them. They are part of the making of who we are and what we will one day become.

19.  Anxiety about beginning in a new school  Concern about getting lost/being late  Concern with managing a locker  Concern about not knowing other students Typical Transition Issues

20.  Feeling overwhelmed by the “pace” of the school day  Feeling of being incapable of completing the academic work  These issues typically subside within a week or two and should not be an impediment to learning by late October Transition Issues Continued….

21. Barrington Middle School’s Transition Plan Phase 1:  Frequent Conversations and meetings between HMS and BMS Phase 2:  Parent Orientation  One Amazing Night! Phase 3:  Student Orientation(s) -One Amazing Night! -HMS School Visit -BMS School Visit -Locker Day Phase 4:  “Now That You Are Here!” night

22. Empowering all Students to Excel!

24.  7:15Students begin to arrive  Report to pre-assigned locations indicated in cluster assignment letter  7:35 Lockers  Students are assigned cluster and gym lockers  7:45 Homeroom  7:50 Classes begin  2:05 School Ends  2:15 Buses Leave  3:30 Late Bus Leaves Typical Day

25.  Monday (Aug 25, 1 st day)Day 1  TuesdayDay 2  WednesdayDay 3  ThursdayDay 4  FridayDay 5  MondayDay 6  Tuesday (repeat cycle)Day 1 Six Day Schedule

26.  5 Cluster Classes  Math  Language Arts  Social Studies  Science  FAST Seven Period Day

27. Rainbow Cluster Classes First Unified Art’s Period  Art  Music  Computer Technology  6 th Grade Keyboarding  7 th /8 th Grade Computer Technology  Family and Consumer Sciences  Cooking  Sewing  Materials Lab  Wood Shop  Robotics Second Unified Art’s period  Day 1, 3, 5: Physical Education  Day 2, 4, 6: Health Note: Band and Unified Art Chorus and Unified Art Band/Chorus no Unified Art

28. Foreign Language (Grades 7 & 8)  Spanish  French

29.  Smaller group of students  Assigned to an advisor “on team/grade level”  Purpose:  Develop close, trusting relationships between student and at least one adult; Personalization  Develop positive self-esteem and a sense of belonging  Discuss issues that students are having in or out of school  Work on “ILP” (Individual Learning Plan); goals  School-wide camaraderie/competitions/service learning  Required for middle schools by RI Board of Regents Regulations as of 2006-2007 Connect

30. Barrington Middle School Cluster Schedule 2013 – 2014 TimeDay 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5Day 6 7:4 5- 7:50 Homeroom 7:50– 8:37 1 ART 1 ART 1 ART 1 ART 1 ART 1 ART 8:40– 9:27 222222 9:30-10:17 333333 10:20-11:07 444444 11:10-11:34 Lunch 11:37-12:25 FAST School Wide FAST School Wide FAST School Wide FAST School Wide FAST School Wide FAST School Wide 12:28- 1:15 666666 1:18- 2:05 7 Phys. Ed. 7 Health 7 Phys. Ed. 7 Health 7 Phys. Ed. 7 Health

31. Barrington Middle School Cluster Flexible Schedule 2013 – 2014 TimeDay 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5Day 6 7:45- 7:50 Homeroom 7:50- 8:37 ART 8:40-11:07 11:10-11:34 Lunch 11:37- 1:15 1:18- 2:05 Phys. Ed.HealthPhys. Ed.HealthPhys. Ed.Health

32. Universal Screening: -3 Times a Year -Frequent Data Days Student Academic Performance: -Students who are not proficient academically Student Behavioral Performance: -Students who are not meeting our expectations Teacher/Parent Referral: -Referrals made by teachers/parents Academic Supports BMS is a RTI School!

33. The BMS Learning Community is Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed!

34. Treating peers and adults as you want to be treated; recognizing and appreciating the qualities of others. Respectful

35. Making your education a priority; embracing your role as a productive member of the Barrington Middle School Learning Community. Responsible

36. Being prepared for each day; knowing what is expected of you. Ready to Succeed!

37. The BMS Learning Community is: Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed! SCHOOL-WIDE RespectfulResponsibleReady to Succeed Appropriate language/inside voice. Keep traffic moving/Make space. Follow directions of adults in the building. Follow school dress code. Own your actions. Follow rules and procedures. Be in the right place, at the right time. Resolve conflicts with maturity. Maintain healthy habits. Participate and ask for help. Do your best.

38.  Appropriate language/inside voice.  Keep traffic moving/Make space.  Follow directions of adults in the building.  Follow school dress code. School Wide Respectful

39.  Own your actions.  Follow rules and procedures.  Be in the right place, at the right time.  Resolve conflicts with maturity. School Wide Responsible

40.  Maintain healthy habits.  Participate and ask for help.  Do your best. School Wide Ready to Succeed!

41. The BMS Learning Community is: Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed!! BUS RespectfulResponsibleReady to Succeed Keep remarks and comments appropriate. Use a quiet voice. Keep hands and feet to yourself. Make room for others. Stay seated and face forward. Avoid engaging other drivers. Avoid distracting the driver. Arrive to bus stop/bus on time. Have all materials with you; make sure they are organized.

42. The BMS Learning Community is: Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed!! CLASSROOM RespectfulResponsibleReady to Succeed Listen while someone else is talking. Leave students’ and teacher’s belongings alone. Leave work area clean and neat. Stay on task. Encourage and recognize other students and their achievements. Stay actively involved during entire class period. Ask for help when needed. Keep your materials organized. Bring all supplies: books, paper, writing utensils, agenda, homework, etc. Be in assigned seat. Take care of personal needs (water, restroom, locker) at an appropriate time.

43. RespectfulResponsibleReady to Succeed Treat everyone politely. Allow your classmates their personal space. Use good table manners. Speak with an indoor voice. Wait to be dismissed by teachers. Stay in seat. Ask permission to leave the dining room. 8 – 10 students to a table. Finish and/or discard all consumables before you leave. Clean up area after eating and stack chairs appropriately. Walk in dining room calmly. Have money/number ready to pay. Get all utensils and food items before being seated. The BMS Learning Community is: Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed! DINING ROOM

44. The BMS Learning Community is: Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed!! HALLWAYS AND STAIRS RespectfulResponsibleReady to Succeed Talk without using profanity and offensive language. Speak with an indoor voice. Keep hands/feet to yourself; refrain from horseplay. Pick up anything on the floor that needs to be picked up. Respect and listen to ALL adults in hallways. Go directly to and from locker and classroom. Walk down and up stairs safely and appropriately. Walk on the right side of the hallway. Treat lockers with care. Have signed pass from teacher. Know the best route to your destination and move with a purpose. Close and lock locker when finished.

45. The BMS Learning Community is: Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed! LIBRARY RespectfulResponsibleReady to Succeed Stay on task and be aware of others’ needs. Use an indoor voice. Keep all four chair legs on the floor. Clean up work area and push chairs in. Always check books out and return them in a timely manner. Use computers for school related purposes only. Sign in and out at lunch and after school. Ask permission to leave the library. Have all appropriate materials with you. Use appropriate resources (databases, teacher recommended websites, content related books) for all projects. Read text from all sources carefully.

46. The BMS Learning Community is: Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed! RESTROOMS RespectfulResponsibleReady to Succeed Be mindful of other people’s privacy. Keep the facility clean. Notify staff of problems. Use facilitates as intended. Wash hands with soap. Properly dispose of trash. Sign in and out of class. Have a pass at all times. Use nearest facility.

47. Natural Consequences For Meeting Expected Behaviors:  “Eagle Eyes”  Frequent School Wide Raffles  Frequent School Wide Acknowledgements/Celebrations  Principal’s Award For Not Meeting Expected Behaviors:  Conference with the student  Parent contact/notification  Teacher detention  Lunch detention  Office detention  In School Suspension/ Out of School Suspension

48. Behavior Information Reports

49. Home-to-school Partnership  If you believe only half of what your child says happens in school,  We will believe only half of what your child says happens at home.

50. Problem Solving Protocol  Step 1 – If an issue is with an individual teacher, that teacher should be contacted first.  Step 2 – If satisfaction was not achieved, or if an issue concerns more than 1 teacher or a team of teachers, contact your child’s guidance counselor.  Step 3 – If satisfaction was not achieved in Steps 1 or 2, contact the BMS administration. The decision of the principal is the final decision at the building level.  Step 4 – If satisfaction was not achieved in Step 3 at the building level, an appeal can be made to the Barrington Public Schools’ Central Administration. Conflict Resolution Procedure

51. Communication:  Student Contact Data Information through ASPEN  ASPEN- online grading report system  ASPEN- Teacher “Pages”  Quarterly Report Cards (electronic)  Student agenda pads  Student Handbook  Parents are free to call the school to leave messages for guidance counselors or teachers to talk or schedule meetings  Meetings typically happen during teachers’ common planning time or before/after school.  Parents are also free to email staff  Ex. Andrew Anderson is: andersona@bpsmail.org Home-to-school Partnership

52. Communication (Cont.):  www.barringtonmiddle.org www.barringtonmiddle.org  Daily Announcements, Parent FAQ Page, Twitter Scroll  http://twitter.com/#!/bms_ri  Bi-Monthly BMS News (electronic newsletter)  Monthly AM Principal Coffee Hours  Monthly Principal Lunch and Talks  Monthly PTO Meetings  $15.00 membership dues  Join us at our PTO meetings, 2 nd Monday of each month in our library at 7:00 p.m.  Meeting dates are posted on website Home-to-school Partnership

53. After-School Enrichment Program  October and February Offerings  2:15 and 2:35 Start Times  Over by 3:35  Once a week/8weeks  Late bus/walk/pick-up  Fee based  Open to any student  www.myschoolbucks.com  Photography  Basketball and Volleyball “Camps”  Cooking/Baking  Computer Programming  Wood Working  Robotics  Photoshop  Drumming

54. After School Sports Offerings Fall Sports: Cross Country (B &G) Field Hockey Winter Sports: Boy’s Basketball Girl’s Basketball Wrestling (B&G) Spring Sports: Track (B&G) Intramurals: Flag Football Frisbee

55. Panel Discussion

56. The BMS Learning Community is Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed!

57. Today, I will give nothing less than my personal best!

58. We will see you soon!