Garden Spot Middle School WELCOME Opening Welcome Slide for Principal as well as opening slide for Counselor/Panel/Principal talk Counselor: Welcome 6th graders! We are so excited you are here today! We have been preparing for you in many ways. Today you toured the building, heard from our technology department and learned about the cafeteria. Now you will hear from a few of our 7th grade students, myself and Mr. Starr about a typical day at the middle school! (7th graders introduce themselves at this time) Garden Spot Middle School

The First Day of 7th Grade Counselor: What special item are you to wear on the first day? Student: You are to wear your Lanyard that you get at summer tours. (show example). Your lanyard will have your locker number and locker combination on it as well as your team color. Counselor: Where do you go first when you get off the bus? Student: You are to go directly to your homeroom and or locker. Counselor: How will the new 7th graders know where their homeroom is? Student: You will receive a letter in the mail in August telling you what your homeroom is. When you come to the August Tours, you can practice walking to your homeroom. Counselor: When do the new 7th graders get their schedules? Student: You will get your schedule at the August tours.

BLUE and GRAY TEAMS GRAY TEAM Counselor: What does it mean to have a Blue Team and a Gray Team? Student: Our school colors are blue and gray. Students are randomly placed on either the blue Team or the gray Team. We have teachers on the Gray Team and teachers on the Blue Team so that we have smaller learning communities. All your friends that have the same team color will have many of the same teachers as you.

BLUE and GRAY TEAMS BLUE TEAM Counselor: How will a new student know if they are on the blue team or the gray team? Student: Read your August letter that will come in the mail. It will tell you your homeroom number, locker number and team color. All the teachers on your team will make sure you know where you are going and they will give you enough time until you are familiar with your schedule .

HUMANITIES TEAM Music, Technology Education (Tech Ed HUMANITIES TEAM Music, Technology Education (Tech Ed.), Health and Physical Education and Art Counselor: What are Humanities Classes? Student: Humanities Classes include Art Class, Music Class, Tech. Ed. technology Education and Health & P.E. (physical education). You will have a Humanities class each quarter.

Counselor: How many periods are there in a day? Student: There are 8 periods each day. You start your day with a 10 minute homeroom. Next you go to period one through 4 followed by lunch at 10:52. After lunch you have periods 5 through 7. Then you go to the final period which is your Club period. Counselor: What kinds of classes will 7th graders have? Student: You will have Math for two periods and Language Arts for two periods each day. Science and Social Studies are for one period each day. Then you have Humanities classes for one quarter each: Music, Art, P.E./Health, and Technology Education.

SPARTAN NOTES Counselor: What are Spartan Notes? Student: Spartan Notes are daily online announcements that you read each morning during homeroom. Your parents can also read the announcements from home. (Click on hyperlink to show) This is what they look like when you see them on your laptop each day.

Health and P. E. (Physical Education) Counselor: Do you have to take a shower after gym class? Student: No, you do not have to take a shower after gym class. Counselor: Do you need to wear a uniform? Student: No, you do not need to wear a uniform, but you do need to CHANGE your clothes into school appropriate athletic wear including sneakers.

Backpacks Counselor: Are you allowed to carry backpacks to the middle school? Student: Yes, you are allowed to carry a backpack to the middle school. But you must put it in your locker for the day. Your laptop comes with a carrying case, so you carry that all day. There is room to put pencils and small things in the computer case. Counselor: May girls carry a purse? Student: Yes, girls may carry a purse. Counselor: Can you go to your locker any time during the day? Student: Yes, you may go to your locker any time during the day but you don’t want to be late to class, .so plan your trips to your locker wisely!

FRIENDS NEW and OLD Counselor: Do students make new friends in the middle school? Student: The nice thing about middle school is that you get to keep your old friends from elementary school and make new friends! Counselor: How do you meet new friends? Student: You will have many opportunities to make new friends: Homeroom, clubs, classes, sports and music programs.

Student After Lunch Social Activity SALSA Student After Lunch Social Activity Counselor: What is SALSA? Student: SALSA stands for Student After Lunch Social Activity. It happens during lunch after you are done eating. You can go to the gym or outside on nice days. You can play basketball, volleyball or just chill with your friends. Counselor: Does everyone go to SALSA? Student: Students can choose if they want to go or not. If you don’t choose to go to SALSA, you stay at your lunch table and visit with friends.

CLUBS 8th period Counselor: When are clubs? Student: Clubs are the last period of each school day- period 8. Counselor: When do 7th graders choose their clubs? Student: Clubs are chosen during the first week of school Counselor: Give me a few examples of clubs that are offered at GSMS Student: Student Council, Chorus, Band. Orchestra, World Beat, Intramural sports, TSA (Technology Student Association), Art, and Movies. (Students now tell the 6th graders what clubs they personally are involved in)

PRINCIPAL’S TALK Dress Code Hallway Movement Red Pass/ Blue Pass Drinks/food in school Lockers- Decorate Late- how many times? Gum Chewing Public Displays of Affection Detention- What is it Like? Electronic Device Policy Horseplay Bullying Spartan Society

HOMEWORK Counselor: Is there homework in 7th grade? Student: Yes, there IS homework in 7th grade. Counselor: How do you know how much homework you have to do? Student: Students can keep track on their laptops AND also access the teacher electronic homework postings on the internet.

LOCKER Counselor: When do new 7th graders find out their locker number? Student: You will find out your locker number in August in the letter that is mailed home. At the August tours you will receive your locker combination so you can practice. Your homeroom teacher will also give you time to practice during the first several weeks of school.

SPORTS www.elanco.org Counselor: How do students find out about the sports that are offered at GSMS? Student: You can go to the ELANCO website listed on this slide and learn about the sports. Some of the sports are soccer, football, volleyball, track and field, basketball, field hockey, wrestling and lacrosse. You can also learn about school sports on Spartan Notes.

Movies! Dances! Spirit Day! Assemblies! SPECIAL EVENTS Movies! Dances! Spirit Day! Assemblies! Counselor: What are some of the special events that students can look forward to? Student: We have movies, dances, Spirit Day, Talent Show, and assemblies.

Summer Self- Guided Tours MS Back to School Event at CrossNet SAVE THE DATE 6th Grade Mixer at GSMS May 24th – 6:00 – 8:00 PM Summer Self- Guided Tours August 16th- 9:00 – 11:00 AM August 21st - 5:00 – 7:00 PM MS Back to School Event at CrossNet August 20th- 6:00 – 8:00 PM Counselor

Here’s to a great 7th grade year Here’s to a great 7th grade year! We are looking forward to you coming to GSMS! Counselor