1. EFFORT CREATES SUCCESS! BREAKING BARRIERS AT STERLING MIDDLE SCHOOL ONE STUDENT AT A TIME

2. THE CHOICES STUDENTS MAKE NOW AFFECT THEIR LIVES IN THE PRESENT AND FUTURE ! EDUCATION PAYS! Effort Creates Success!

3. THE MORE YOU LEARN THE MORE YOU EARN! WE EXPECT YOU TO BE COLLEGE BOUND! Workers Ages 25 and Older, by Education Level, 2008

4. INTELLIGENCE (ACADEMIC SUCCESS) IS NOT DEFINED BY Race Culture Gender Religious Beliefs Socio Economic Status Effort Creates Academic Success !

5. WHAT IS A GPA? GRADE POINT AVERAGE GPA IS USED AS A NATIONAL RANKING SYSTEM The higher your GPA, the more opportunities you will have in life : : Activities in High School College, University Scholarships Money, $$$ Honors and Awards Internships Respect, RESPECT, RESPECT

6. CALCULATE YOUR GPA! Class Letter Grade Point Conversion EnglishA4.0 A+4.3 AlgebraB+3.3 A4.0 ScienceC+2.3 A-3.7 Spanish 1B+3.3 B+3.3 Health & PEA-3.7 B3.0 ChorusA4.0 B-2.7 CivicsB3.0 C+2.3 C2.0 Add the point conversions23.6 C-1.7 D+1.3 Divide by the number of classes3.4 D1.0 D-0.7 F0.0 Use this key to convert your letter grades to points. Write the points in the Point Conversion column. Using your report card, fill in your classes and letter grades in the chart below. This is your GPA!

7. EFFORT This is how teachers provide opportunities for your child to show effort ! IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS WE EXPECT YOU TO BE COLLEGE BOUND!

8. ●Teacher models / explains concept –I do ●Students raises hand to ask questions, clarifications-you do ●Time to practice concept taught during class-we do, you do ●Homework for more practice – you do ●After school, before school, lunch help -I do and you do ●Double math or Reading help during the day-I do and you do ●Resource Time during the day - we do, you do Teachers volunteer their time before and after school as well as their 30 minute lunch time!

9. Low personal goals (students are ok with a D, and don't try to do better) Lack of self motivation Not completing work at home Choosing not to do remediation to bring grades up when it is offered (by most, if not all, teachers) Lack of studying outside of school Not being organized (losing work, etc.) Not taking advantage of resources WHAT DO TEACHERS HEAR AND SEE FROM STUDENTS TEACHERS HAVE 150 STUDENTS EACH (SOME HAVE MORE) AND ONLY 45 MINUTES OF PREP TIME DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

10. WHAT STUDENTS SAY SUCCESSFUL I WILL TRY I WON’T GIVE UP I WILL WORK HARDER NEXT TIME I WILL DO MY HOMEWORK I WILL STUDY D’S AND F’S I DON’T CARE I’M NOT SMART WHY BOTHER? I CAN’T… I WON’T… WE EXPECT YOU TO BE COLLEGE BOUND!

11. ACADEMIC SUCCESS CREATES OPTIONS What does effort look like? Choices you make

12. EFFORT ….THE STUDENT… ARRIVES TO CLASS ON TIME HAS SUPPLIES FOR CLASS TAKES NOTES AND USES THEM TO LEARN BEGINS ASSIGNMENTS IMMEDIATELY FOCUSES ON WORK DEMONSTRATES ATTENTIVENESS-UPRIGHT IN CHAIR, EYE CONTACT, FOLLOWS DIRECTIONS, ASKS WORK RELATED QUESTIONS ATTEMPTS TO COMPLETE ASSIGNMENTS DOES THEIR BEST COMPLETES HOMEWORK STUDIES AHEAD OF TIME AND DOES NOT CRAM WE EXPECT YOU TO BE COLLEGE BOUND!

13. STRATEGIES FOR STUDENT SUCCESS THE CHOICE IS YOURS Come to class on time. Be prepared for class. Listen to and follow directions. Complete homework and classwork. Do my best work. Be honest (No copying, forgery, sharing homework, etc.). DO THE RIGHT THING Ask for help Take advantage of resources for help Stay organized TRY-put forth the EFFORT…just like a video game…we learn best by our mistakes Effort creates success!

14. PARENT SUPPORT STRATEGIES: MAKE EDCUATION A PRIORITY! Require regular study time every day Require to see homework and classwork for content, completion, effort and for the grade Check backpack, binders and folders for organization Students need a routine Students need 8-10 hours of sleep Electronics should not be in the bedroom Students need to eat a good breakfast Provide consequences if students do not comply Don’t overschedule your child with other activities PARENTS ARE IN CHARGE, NOT 11-15 YEAR OLDS!

15. PARENTS: DO YOU KNOW HOW TO ACCESS CLARITY AND RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS! 1)DO YOU NEED A CLARITY PASSCODE? 2)DO YOU KNOW HOW TO LOG IN TO CLARITY? 3)DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE INFORMATION IN CLARITY? 4)DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN SET UP AN E-MAIL ALERT FROM CLARITY WHEN YOUR CHILD RECEIVES A GRADE? 5)DID YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE COMPUTER LAB TIME AVAILABLE FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS? WE EXPECT STUDENTS TO BE COLLEGE BOUND!

16. INTELLIGENCE (ACADEMIC SUCCESS) IS NOT DEFINED BY Race Culture Gender Religious Beliefs Socio Economic Status poverty How much money you earn Effort Creates Academic Success !

17. HAVE TO PUT IN THE EFFORT AND LEARN TO THINK FOR YOURSELF! YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF YOUR FUTURE OR end up in the same grade AGAIN next year, repeating the SAME courses! YOU

18. WE BELIEVE IN YOU! THE QUESTION IS… Do you believe in yourself? CHOOSE to never give up on yourself!