1. The journey in between what you once were and who you are now becoming is where the dance of life really takes place… Barbara DeAngelis

2.  Awareness of this pre-adolescent development phase of our children  Team structure  Integrated/interdisciplinary curricula  Education of the “Whole Child”  Meaningful relationships with adults  Opportunities for learning outside of the classroom

3.  We start with HR at 8:05 AM  Dismissal is at 2:50 PM  We have an 8 period day  Two periods a day are in “specials”  Specials rotate every other day (day A: day B)  One period per day is flex or recess  Grade 5 level lunch wave (25 minutes)

4.  Students are teamed  Currently we have 2 teams and each team has four teachers.  All teachers teach history and then specialize in Language Arts, Math, and Science.  Class Size is approximately 22-24 students

5.  Exploratory Wheel: Each course = one term or 30 classes  Art  Library Media  Developmental Guidance  Physical Education: Every other day all year  Music: Every other day all year  Band or Chorus  Spanish

6.  Math Support and Reading Support  Mostly Regular Education (and some Special Ed)  Academic Support  Mostly Special Education (and 504)  Every Other Day = Drop one Special  Every Day = Drop two Specials

7.  All students take band or chorus  If you take both= drop one special  Band and chorus have two concerts ( winter / spring)  Band Info:  No lesson pull outs  Band instruments can be borrowed  Indicate instrument your child plays on the registration form

8.  FLES – Grades 5 and 6  Spanish Only  Grade 7 and 8  Every other day in 7 th / every day in 8 th  Choice of French or Spanish  Two year Course Completes the HS Level 1

9.  Physical Education is every other day, all year  Students must wear running sneakers  No jeans  Change of shirt is necessary  Students must change to receive participation grade for each day

10.  Role of School Counselor (Rebecca Degnan and Alan Fortin)  Case review  every two weeks at team meeting  attended by school counselor, school social worker, school psychologist, school nurse, principal or assistant principal as well as team of teachers  SRBI (Scientific Research Based Intervention)  Math and reading support provided

11.  LEAP is a class in the Wheel (students must drop a special)  Math 6  Academic based Clubs  First Lego  Math Counts

12.  Two Special Education teachers  Two teams are supported for SPED  Collaborative model for in-class support  Resource support during academic support  Specialized Programming  The Learning Center (Significantly Disabled Students)  Full time School Psychologist and Social Worker  Speech and Language Specialist (Part time)

13.  2 Computer Labs  Music  Library Media  TV Studio for student morning news  Student and Teacher Access  Wireless technology  LCD projectors/Interactive White Boards  Wireless student laptops – 60 per grade level

14.  Parent conferences are scheduled by grade 5 teachers and counselor for October  Team meetings can be scheduled throughout the year  April conferences are only scheduled by team leader

15.  Students in grade 5 may carry their inhaler and/ or epi-pen with a doctor’s order  Medication should be delivered by parent to school nurse NOT by student  Please contact the nurse if you have medical concerns about your child

16.  We do not rotate classes. If your child is tardy to school, they will always miss the same class.  10 Day rule from State of CT  Call, FAX or email your attendance to the main office whenever your child is absent.

17.  Inter-Scholastic Sports is a selective, competitive program (for grade 5: swimming, x country, wrestling)  Clubs have three sessions (Fall, Winter, Spring)  Permission slip required to stay after school.  All students who stay after must be in a supervised program.  PM room is staffed Monday through Friday

18.  Staff from all schools meet to discuss students with transition issues  Transition PPT’s scheduled for special education students  Visit HKMS during the school day, Wednesday, May 6 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.  Assistant Principal and counselor visits with 4 th grade students  Grade4 visits the MS for an orientation in early June  Step Up Camp Experience: 2 hour sessions week before school

19.  4 th Grade teachers complete intake form  Team leaders and counselor balance for gender, sending school, ability  Parents may request teacher in writing by May 11 (Please do not send in a roster of children to group with and not with)

20.  Registration:  Forms must be completed  Return to HR teacher by May 11  Please give us accurate contact information  Student selections are input to computer in May and June

21.  Lockers  Getting to class on time  Finding the right bus at the end of the day  Finding the way around the building

22.  Join the PTO  Frequent parent bulletins emailed out by principal and assistant principal via Constant Contact  Teacher assignment pages linked from the MS website  Parents will have on line access to grades via POWERSCHOOL  Check agenda book  Parent-Teacher Advisory Council