RSM Intermediate School April 2015 Parent/Student Information Night Stress objectives of the night, encourage parents to visit our website and sign up for e-News. Also mention student rewards, such as Roadrunner pride, Student of the Tri, honor roll, etc.

Presenters Dr. Jameson, Principal Mr. Elkins, Assistant Principal Mr. Bajorek, Assistant Principal Mrs. Bills, Counselor Mrs. Delgado, Counselor STPO Representatives PAL Students Here are the students who signed up to help for the remaining orientations at the elementary schools: 4/28--Cielo Vista Bri Shannon Kristen Rosenberg Liz Juarez Munoz Paloma Sandoval Maddi Ramsey 4/28--Foothill Ranch 1st session:   Ethan Boncich Sophia Gagnon Jarod Kulpa Hayden Decker 2nd session: Nolan Turner 4/29--Robinson Josh Barth Winter Garbin Aracely Cruz 4/30--Melinda Heights 1st session: Madi Fawcett Reese Davidson Vanessa Kane Lindsey Colclough Cambria Cartee - Mr. Bajorek - Dr. J - Mrs. Bills - Mr. Elkins

Vision At RSM, we're focused on learning for all. We work collaboratively to give our students a rich and meaningful educational experience that fosters a lifelong love of learning. Our students work hard, set and reach goals, develop successful interpersonal and workplace skills, and leave here better prepared for life's challenges. Focus on learning. It’s not about how well you teach it. It’s about whether they learned in.

Key Objectives Provide information on course and promotion requirements Introduce the curriculum and registration process Preview campus safety and discipline Give tips on how to be successful at RSM

Welcome to the 7th grade! First day of school is Monday, August 31st The regular school day: 8:15 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. Minimum/PLC days: 8:15 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. Students will start school in their homerooms. It may or may not me a late start day. Let them know we’ll post homerooms a day or two before the start of school, so they can see where students will start the day and want to tour the campus/

What to Expect at RSM Possibly 10 different teachers in one year Up to 6 or 7 teachers in one trimester PE every day, even when it rains Two sets of books (no lockers) Rotating schedule Four-minute passing periods, even when it rains Final exams three times a year Larger campus with approximately 1,300 students Promotion requirements Extracurricular activities, except when it rains Three administrators and a full- and part-time counselor Electives

Map of RSM Intermediate School Remind parents who come to open house to focus on 100 building, 200 building, and 7000 building (not really necessary to go to 300 building)

Typical Bell Schedule One-Lunch Day 7:15 – 8:07 O Period 52 8:15 – 8:27 Homeroom 12 8:31 – 9:22 Mod 1 51 9:26 – 10:18 Mod 2 52 10:18 - 10:33 Snack 15 10:37 – 11:28 Mod 3 51 11:32 – 12:24 Mod 4 52 12:24 – 1:04 LUNCH 40 1:08 – 1:59 Mod 5 51 2:03 – 2:55 Mod 6 52

Rotating Schedule Monday Tuesday Wednesday HR 6 1 2 3 snack 4 5 lunch Please don’t say too much about homeroom being the same class as Period 6 (may change this year)

How to Be Successful at RSM Attend school every day, even when it rains Use your planner Complete your homework and TURN IT IN! Plan on 20-30 minutes per night per academic subject Ask your teachers for help Check your grades online … (not every day and not just when it rains!) Stay organized and use your time well Keep up with your Reading Counts Dress for PE daily Take advantage of all academic support opportunities Homework times are an average. Different students complete similar assignments at different time

7th Grade Villages Each village has approximately 160 students who share the same math, English, history, and science teacher Size and structure of each village subject to staffing, enrollment, teacher credentialing Essentially creates a smaller school environment Students take electives & PE ‘out of village’ Creates a more student-centered experience Makes it easy to change classes, especially when it rains Key points: one common group of teachers for parents to communicate with. Similar expectations among student. Four sets of eyes monitoring your child’s success. Most village teachers have common prep, which makes it easier to schedule parent-teacher conferences. Challenges with changing schedules and scheduling electives.

PAL Peer Assistance and Leadership - Award-winning program - Positive peer role models - Peer mentoring - PAL games -Make a difference Changing in the locker for PE. How to make friends in a big school Rotating schedule. Brochure.

Volunteer—involved parents keep our students successful and safe. Join us—nearly every dollar raised by STPO fundraisers or membership goes directly to RSM Intermediate School. Volunteer—involved parents keep our students successful and safe. Get elected—make a difference all year long. The big

Course Requirements 7th Grade 8th Grade Math (3 trimesters) Science (3 trimesters) World History (3 trimesters) U.S. History (3 trimesters) English (3 trimesters) Electives (0ne year or 3 trimesters) Physical Education (3 trimesters) Physical Education (2 trimesters) Health/Fitness (1 trimester) Emphasize that most often student fail to achieve minimum promotion requirements by choice, not by limitations in skill or knowledge.

Promotion Requirements Minimum 1.0 grade point average in English and math for the year. No more than three failures in core content areas. Minimum 1.5 grade point average for the year.

Intervention and Help Many of our teachers provide help on their own time before school, at lunch, after school, or via email or Haiku READ 180, support for students with disabilities and English learners, peer tutors, on-line and other resources, as funding and creativity allow Planner contracts, behavior contracts, and parent-teacher-student meetings Academic intervention classes, lunchtime help, after-school homework drop-in

Monitoring Student Progress Three ~12-week trimesters Progress reports every 6 weeks Report cards every trimester Nearly all teachers post grades on-line Weekly progress emails Notes: explain difference between report card and progress report (progress report is your official “This is how your child is doing” warning to make it right by the end of the trimester. Trimesters are approximate. Teachers have different polices and practices with regard to on-line grading. When in doubt, email the teacher. Tip on monitoring your child’s grade: it’s not the stock market and we don’t trade on margin.

How can I help you? RSM Counseling Services: Personal and academic problems Parent conferences Promotion status Community referrals Crisis intervention Classroom guidance lessons Information on community resources Umbrellas

The RSM Way: SOAR ABOVE THE LINE See it. Own it. Solve It. Do It. Take responsibility for it Do something constructive about it Remember, it’s not personal See it from the other person’s POV Avoid it. Deny it. Ignore it. Complain about it. Blame it on someone else. “It’s not my fault. He made me do it.” The Oz Principal by Tom Smith. It’s seeing your role in the outcome before you. “my student is failing because the teacher didn’t notify me in time to do anything”

Campus Safety and Discipline High expectations supported with progressive discipline Purpose of dress code: foster a positive & safe learning environment Dress for Success! Evacuation drill on the first day of school, model safety practices Deputy Clay Cranford, Child Safety Deputy Community support Dress for success! - MUN Conference April 2014

Keep hands and feet to yourself You can … Walk & Talk Walk & Not Talk But you can’t talk and not walk Bell to bell, no cell! One ear to hear! Keep hands and feet to yourself Dress for Success!

Mark Your Calendar April 23rd: Open House (classrooms open from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.) April 24th: Electives cards due to sixth-grade teachers June 30th: Notification of academic course levels August 7th: Post cards verifying address mailed Aug. 19th & 20th: Roadrunner Rally (7th on 8/19) August 31st: First day of school Mention silent auctions. Give them a map to show where the electives classes are

Reminders & Tasks Sign up for the family portal Remember to bring your post card & proof of registration to Roadrunner Rally (bring a backpack & credit card, too) Didn’t get a postcard? Bring two of the following current bills instead: gas, water, or electric Take care of your Pertussis Immunization BEFORE 6th grade ends Save most of your sunny summer Wednesday: Register on-line before 8/19 (or it could rain on your parade)

Pertussis Immunization Law Students must have a Pertussis vaccine booster and provide supporting documentation before the first day of school Please have your child vaccinated with a Pertussis booster before the end of the current school year Pretty please?

Honors Placement Honors Placement Based on teacher recommendation, grades, ability Honors courses include English & World History and/or Math 7 Honors GATE status does not guarantee enrollment in honors courses Level adjustments may occur through the first trimester on an as-needed basis. Students placed in math 7 or pre algebra based on teacher recommendation, placement test, work habits. Teachers reassess during first few weeks of school. No weighting of courses in middle school. High achieving 7th graders invited to take ART—only about 30-36 actually make. Maturity plays a big role in placement in higher math. Not every students is ready for the abstract thinking required for algebra at the same time. The goal is to put your child in an environment to maximize learning.

Electives Program We offer a rich electives program We do our best our best to accommodate your top choice(s) Elective cards due to 6th grade teachers by April 24th Choose wisely: Schedule changes are rare … very rare Registration information, including the PowerPoint will be available on our website on or about April 30th Have a copy of the elective card to show them. 8th graders get priority on high demand electives. Remind them to number their elective choices with one being the elective you most want to number 12. Reiterate: no guarantees on electives. We’ll do our best to get you at least one of your top 3 choices.

Make Yourself Matter Join STPO Volunteer: Chaperone dances, sell dance tickets, donate to fundraisers, work in the office Run for a seat on RSM School Site Council Attend Back to School Night and Open House Communicate with your child’s teachers reasonably, responsibly and respectfully

It’s Not “All Work and No Play”! Student recognition programs, including Student of the Tri Luncheons Fun-a-ramas Dances Talent show, RSM Idol, dance competition Theater, band & choral productions After school sports through Parks & Recreation Ironman & Ironwoman PAL, ASB, KRSM And a whole lot more …

What’s to Love about RSM? Our focus on learning for our students and ourselves Teacher collaboration on best practices and how to best serve students Responsive office staff and administration Our rich tradition of academic and personal success of our students Great facility Awesome community support, from the mayor to you It rarely rains

Journalism Do you love to write? Try our newly designed Broadcast Journalism class! Report on school sports, plays, concerts, fine arts, dances, and other school events and activities. See your writing published in our online newspaper and on KRSM, our daily news show! Questions? Contact Mr. Mills at millst@svusd.org

Questions? For further information, please visit the RSM Website rsmintermediate.com This PPT will be posted on our website under registration materials.

Thursday, April 24th from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. RSM Open House See it for yourself Thursday, April 24th from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. RSM Open House

Things to Bring to RR Rally* Read the Annual Notice Booklet on-line, then sign and bring the SVUSD student registration form Read and sign everything in the registration packet Disaster emergency card Receipt form and checks Backpack for textbooks A big smile … for your yearbook photo *Subject to change, pending on-line registration Note: there is a 7th grade and 8th grade day. If you can’t make your grade level, come on the other day, but be sure to let the yearbook photographer know your grade level.

Reminders Sign up for e-News? Bring in proof of Pertussis Immunization to your current school. Sign up for the family portal. Join STPO. If you have a smart phone, do it now (show ‘em on the web site)