1. WELCOME CMS STUDENTS & PARENTS Allison Barbour, Principal Fannetta Austin-Gooden & John April Assistant Principals

2. Welcome to Team Success! Ms. Sharonda Dugger/Ms. Jaime Patton- Math Ms. Nora Williams- Social Studies Ms. Yoshia Hames/Ms. Carol Sims- English/Language Arts Mrs. Tiffany Turner- Science

3. CMS Facts ALL ABOUT CMS School Mascot: Bulldog School Colors: Red, Black, White School Hours: 8:15 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Agenda Fee: $4.00 PTA Membership- $8.00 School supplies needed…. Copies of list available at resource table Teachers’ Wish List Bulletin Board located in classrooms.

4. CLUBS/ACTIVITIES Yearbook Art Club News Crew Sports (7th & 8th Grade Only) Student Council (6 th, 7 th & 8 th ) Odyssey of the Mind Technology Intramurals Pep Club Dance Team Math Reading Beta 4H Drama Mentoring Peer Mediation AVID Leaders

5. Sports @ CMS 6 th graders are not eligible to participate in middle school sports. All 6 th graders are encouraged to show School Spirit and Bulldog Pride by attending as many games as they can and serving as managers with coaching staff and parental permission. Students must go home by their normal mode of transportation and return with a parent in order to attend games.

6. School Layout 5 Main Hallways “A” Hall…..6th Grade Wing “B” Hall…..7 th Grade Wing “C” Hall…..8 th Grade Wing “D” Hall…..PC Classes/Specialty Classes E Hall Way and New Construction-Connection Classes

7. Dressing for Success the “Bulldog Way” Clothing must.. Fit properly, not to exceed one (1) size beyond the correct size Shirts may be tucked or untucked, but must not be oversized or extra long. Not be modified in any way Not allowed to be sagging, bagging, or dragging Shoes for PE must be athletic in nature. Flip flops and bedroom shoes may not be worn. P.E. uniforms are suggested, but not required; however, all students enrolled in PE must dress in clothing approved for physical engagement. Jeans and skirts are not examples of PE clothing. Parents may purchase PE spirit wear. Skirts, dresses and shorts must adhere to the length requirements even if tights/leggings are worn underneath. Rule of Thumb-Treat the leggings as hosiery—if the leggings were removed, would the shirt /skirt be long enough to cover the body within the length requirements of the school policy. Scarves, caps, stocking caps, doo rags,bandanas, etc are not allowed. (On approved hat days, hats may be worn within the guidelines of the recognition/incentive )

8. Bus Riders If you have moved after June 30 th into another home school zone, please see our registrar, Suzanne Stripling to confirm your school assignment.

9. Bus Issues--Who to Call?? If you have any problems or questions regarding the bus service, contact the personnel at the transportation department 770-860-4350

10. Important Information Parents, due to the seating capacity on the school buses, students are not permitted to ride any bus other than the one assigned by transportation unless permission has been granted from the main office. To request a change in transportation, please send a note in with your child. Confirmation of the change in transportation will be communicated to the parent by office staff. Notes must be in the main office by 10 a.m.

11. Important Information If your child needs to be picked up for an early dismissal, please be sure that you arrive to the school to request early check out before 3:30 p.m. We will not release students past this time NOTE: Students will not be allowed to leave the classroom and wait for you in the office. We will only call the student to the office once you have arrived and made the request.

12. Car Riders Car riders-Drop off/pick-up in front of school. Students are not allowed in the building until 8:15 a.m., unless they have a tutoring/detention pass. Car Riders will be dismissed at 3:55 pm. Students are not to be dropped off prior to 8:15 a.m. and must be picked up by 4:10 p.m.

13. The Agenda Each teacher will write down the day’s homework on the board for students to copy. Parents should check to see what students have for homework each night to help ensure that it gets done. Agendas are on sale today for $4.00! Agendas are used as a student pass and are required to leave the classroom. ALL students must have an agenda.

14. Lockers Each student will be assigned his/her own locker. Students may not share their locker space with other students. Personal locks MAY NOT be used; Students will be issued a combination for each locker. Students are STRONGLY encouraged to not share their locker combinations with other students. This prevents theft of personal items/school property. Students will be provided with time to practice using their lock in the classroom. Lockers will be assigned starting the first week of school.

15. Core Class Information Class Placement: General Curriculum, Special Education services, Program Challenge (PC), ELL Language Arts: (CCGPS)Grammar-Writing– Reading, Listening, Speaking Math: (CCGPS) and performance-based learning Social Studies: Incorporation of Reading and Writing with the new Common Core Focus Science: Info –Inquiry-Based – Layered Curriculum. Integrated Reading and Writing. Honors Level Coursework will be provided in all classes through a differentiated model.

16. Typical Sixth Grade Day Homeroom 8:20-8:45 (breakfast included) Four core content classes per day (50 min each). Two connections classes per day. (50 min each). APP (Intervention/Enrichment period) 30 minute lunch period

17. Schedule Changes Schedule Changes will be made under the following conditions: The student NEEDS to move to a different level of Math or English class due to standardized scores. Connections Staffing Conflict. Request for a schedule change due to personal preference may not necessarily constitute nor result in a class change.

18. Technology and Engineering CMS is positioned to become a Technology and Engineering specialty school. Through enhancements that will prepare students to be the most innovative and productive leaders in technology and engineering. Through an engaging, hands-on curriculum, we encourage the development of problem-solving skills, critical thinking, creative/innovative reasoning, and a love for learning.

19. Proposed and Tentative Course Possibilities 2015-16 Design & Modeling Introduction to the engineering design process and tools used, including engineering notebooks and Autodesk Inventor. Broadcasting and Entertainment Engineering Automation & Robotics Model mechanical systems, energy transfer, machine automation and computer control systems.

20. Possible Course Descriptions 2015-16 Flight & Space Explore the history of and science behind aeronautics and space flight. Science of Technology Explore the science and relevance of chemistry, physics and nanotechnology, gaming, and broadcasting Magic of Electrons Acquire knowledge and skills in the behavior and parts of atoms, basic circuitry design and sensing devices. Energy & the Environment Investigate the importance of energy in our lives and the impact that using energy has on the environment.

21. Absences/Tardiness Parents of absent students should call the main office on the day of absence, and have the student bring a note on the day that he/she returns to school. Email and faxed communication that includes the following can be accepted. All notes should be given to homeroom teachers and should include the student’s ID number, and date(s) of absence. All tardy students should be escorted into the building by a parent/guardian. No tardy student can sign him/herself in as tardy. This must be done by a parent/guardian.

22. Truancy Every parent/guardian in this State having charge or control of a child between the ages of 7 and 16 years shall cause the child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the public school to which the child is assigned shall be is session. The parent/custodian of a child shall notify the school of the reason for each known absence of the child, in accordance with local school board policy. The school shall notify the parent/guardian of their child’s excessive absences after the child has accumulated 3, 6 and 10 unexcused absences in a school year. Subsequent to sending the 6 day notification, an appointed school representative will contact the parent/guardian to schedule a conference. If deemed necessary, a home visit will also be conducted by school officials.

23. Truancy Cont’d. After 10 accumulated unexcused absences in a school year, the principal or the principal’s designee shall review any report or investigation prepared and confer with the student and the parent/guardian, if possible to determine if the parent made a “good faith effort” to comply with the law. If it is determined that a “good faith effort” was not made, the principal shall notify the district attorney and the director of social services of the county where the child resides. If it is determined that a “good faith effort” was made the principal may file a complaint with the juvenile court counselor indicating that the child is habitually absent from school without a valid excuse. COMMUNICATION IS KEY!!!!

24. Grading Period Report cards are sent home with students every semester. Mid-quarter progress reports are sent home 4-5 weeks after the quarter begins. If you do not receive progress reports or report cards from your child, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher. (See web-site for report card schedule and progress report dates) Parent conference week will be held in September and in February. Parents may request a conference at other times via the schedule of the child’s teacher.

25. Promotion Requirements To be promoted to grade, a student must earn a grade of 70 (‘D’) or above in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, P.E. and at least one other connections. 8 th Grade students must also pass the state standardized assessment, Milestones

26. PARENT CONNECT! PLEASE CHECK YOUR CHILD’S GRADES FREQUENTLY. Teachers will update your child’s grades weekly. Typically, in a nine week period, you should expect at least 18 or more grades.

27. Parent/Teacher Communication Contact your child’s teacher to schedule a parent/teacher conference. You may also contact your child’s school counselor. 6 th /7 th grade counselor-Marcia Spivery-Parker 8 th grade counselor-Zandra Hunter-Jackson Conferences can be scheduled on Thursdays and Fridays during the teachers’ planning periods. NOTE: Parents please do not “drop by” for a conference. You will be asked to make an appt. for a later date. You may also communicate with your child’s teachers via e-mail (see school’s web-site) and agenda signing. If you have any questions about your child’s academic/social development you may also contact your child’s grade level Assistant Principal.

28. School Counselors Provide Individual counseling Group counseling Classroom guidance Academic, college, and career counseling Assisting students in developing an academic plan Interpreting standardized test results Grief and crisis counseling Responding to and assisting with crises Developing confidential relationships with students Advocating for students Promoting and monitoring student success in a collaborative manner Helping students overcome barriers to learning Providing preventive and intervention strategies for student success Facilitating parent/teacher conferences Serving as a resource to students of available community opportunities Serving as a resource for school staff and parents Serving as a resource for community referrals Providing parent and community outreach Fostering a positive school environment by embracing and promoting diversity

29. Character Education Helps promote a safe and healthy environment Character traits include: Caring Citizenship Justice and Fairness Respect Responsibility Trustworthiness

30. Anti-Bullying “Bullying is a conscious, repeated, hostile, aggressive behavior of an individual or a group abusing their position with the intention to harm others or gain real or perceived power.”

31. What Bullying IS and IS NOT Any of the following aggressive behaviors are not bullying if the actions occur once (i.e., no pattern) or done with no intentions of gaining power. Physical Behaviors such as: Accidently bumping into someone Making others play things a certain way (natural behavior- everyone likes things done their way) Any of the behaviors listed to the right (pushing shoving, tripping, hitting, etc.) which occurs ONCE (i.e., is not a repeated or pattern of behavior) Verbal Behaviors such as: A statement of dislike toward or about someone A single act of telling a joke about someone Arguments or heated disagreements between two or more people/groups (the pattern of which is not repeated to gain power) Expressions of unpleasant thoughts or feelings regarding others Non-Verbal Behaviors Being excluded Not playing with someone Choosing different people or groups to play with from time to time Any of the following aggressive behaviors are bullying if the actions are repeated and done with intentions of gaining power. Physical Attack such as: Bumping into someone Pumping, Shoving, Tripping Hitting (directly or with something else) Punching, Kicking Fighting Verbal Attack –for any kind of difference, such as: Racial, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Physical (height, weight, glasses, etc.) Skills Ability/Disability (too smart, stupid, spaz, etc.) Physical Appearances, Economic Status, Stealing Non-Verbal Attack such as: Staring and glaring Pretending to whisper’ while looking at someone Shunning

32. Important Upcoming Dates Curriculum Night: Sept. 9 th at 6:00p.m. Fall Pictures: TBD (No purchase necessary) Student IDs will be distributed: No later than Second Week of School. STUDENTS MUST WEAR their ID’s At all times on school campus IDs will be used for breakfast/lunch purchases, and to check out books from the media center. Until the ID cards arrive, students are expected to memorize their lunch number or carry the lunch card around with them.

33. Important Upcoming Dates Field trips and other activities will be scheduled throughout the year. Attendance of field trips and activities may be denied due to behavior or academic concerns as applicable. Dates and details will be distributed as they become available.

34. Your Child’s Nutrition Breakfast begins at 8:20 a.m. Breakfast will be served in the classrooms New lunch forms must be completed if your child received free or reduced meals last year.

35. CMS PTA Please join our PTA... We NEED YOU! $8.00 per family

36. “Mentor/Parent Volunteer Program” Mr. Chester Benton is happy to serve you. As our Title 1 Parent Liaison, Mr. Benton can provide priceless services to you. Please stop by our Parent Center located at the front of the school. 770-483-3371

37. Remarks from Principal Barbour… EXCELLENCE IS OUR STANDARD BEST! WE ARE EXCITED TO SERVE YOU! You may contact me at abarbour@rockdale.k12.ga.us Please be sure to complete the evaluation of tonight’s event. Thanks for attending!