The Mission Bradford Preparatory School is committed to ensuring academic excellence, nurturing personal relationships, and inspiring a growing passion for creativity and learning in all of our students. While encouraging our students to take personal responsibility for their future, we will support their development of life skills and encourage them to become compassionate and productive citizens.

Leadership Team Debra Williamson- Middle and High School Director of Curriculum Kelly Painter- Director

Curriculum and Instruction Core Knowledge Sequence and NC SCOS for EOG/EOC classes are used to develop curriculum. Curriculum is both spiraling and integrated across subject areas. Teachers work in collaborative planning sessions as a grade level in addition to planning weekly with the Curriculum Director and EC Specialists. Team teaching will occur in numerous classrooms this year. Project based learning and flipped lessons will be implemented more fully this year. Teachers follow best practices for instruction. Each teacher has a subject specific syllabus which includes the grading policy.

Behavior Expectations All students are expected to follow the school rules. All teachers have the same classroom expectations for behavior. 1. Be on time 2. Be prepared 3. Be respectful We are implementing a new behavior plan for all middle and high school students. More information regarding this plan will be provided by your child’s teachers.

Assessments and Portfolio Conferences Refer to the individual teacher’s syllabus for the grading policy and policy for returning graded work throughout the school year iStation Assessments will occur monthly. Portfolio Conferences – Assessment data shared, along with selected student work samples

Technology Students have access to school owned laptops and iPads as needed, therefore, there is no need or desire for students to bring their own from home. Any electronic devices brought from home (phones, iPods, eReaders, iPads, laptops) will need to be turned off on campus and stored in back packs throughout the day. If a student is found using a personal device, it will be taken to the office. Parents will need to pick it up at the end of the day Students in grades 5 – 8 will have laptops available to them in their classrooms and during study hall. They will not take them home or carry them from class to class. Please read the technology policy in student handbook closely.

Physical Education Students will have P.E. two days a week. Sports will be taught in 4 – 6 week blocks throughout the year. Fitness class will occur one day a week in grades 5-7. Fitness based yoga and stretching will occur one day a week in grades 5 and 6. Seventh and eighth grade students had the choice of athletic conditioning and yoga this year. Middle School students required to change out for PE. Fifth grade students will not dress out for the first semester. Sixth grade students will not dress out until notified by the P.E. teachers. All students take Health on Fridays. Students will receive a grade for Health and P.E.

Art, Music and Spanish Students receive instruction in Spanish two days a week and Latin two days a week in fifth and sixth grades Seventh and eighth grade students receive instruction in Spanish daily All students receive instruction in Art and Music twice a week Students will receive grades in all of these classes.

Advisory and Project Based Learning Advisory meets during lunch once a week Students will participate in Project Based Learning (PBL) throughout the year. PBL is an instructional strategy which allows students to investigate real world problems for an extended period of time in collaborative groups

Fall Retreats Grades 5-7 will head to Windy Gap September 8-9 Cost is $95, Deposits due by 8/21/15. Full payment and permission slip are due on 9/1/15. Grades will head to Carolina Point September Cost is $105 – Deposits due by 8/21/15. Full payment and permission slip due by 9/1/15. We are still in need of chaperones (cost is $95) and work crew (FREE to you). Sign up online or tonight in classrooms. All information and options to pay online are on the school website under the parent tab.

Teacher Communication Teachers will check before and after school daily. Any parent meetings with teachers must be scheduled in advance. Teachers will respond to s within 48 hours, however, if an urgent response is needed, please contact the main office.

Parent/Student/ Teacher Issues If you have a question/concern/comment, please the teacher first. If you need further assistance, please contact Mrs. Williamson for questions regarding academics and curriculum or contact Mrs. Painter for questions regarding behavior.

Sick Policy Parents/guardians are required to follow the sick policy listed below: Illness: Children should be fever/symptom free without medication for a minimum of 36 hours before returning to school. Head Lice – Notify the school immediately if your child has head lice. Discretion will be used. Please do not send your child back to school until he or she has been treated.

Clubs and Organizations Musical Theater Math Olympiad Science Olympiad YCI (Youth Commission International) National Junior Honor Society Student Government – Elections held each spring

Drop Off and Pick Up Carpool Line opens at 7:50 a.m. and closes at 8:15 a.m.. If you arrive after 8:15, please park in the visitor lot and sign your child into school in the office. In the afternoon, anyone with an orange or green carpool tag will be asked to wait to come to pick up until 3:25 p.m.. If you come early, you will be asked to leave and come back at 3:25 p.m.. Students will not be released until 3:30 p.m.. Only shuttle buses will be allowed in the visitor parking lot this year. All families should pick up their carpool line tag with their family number and group carpool tag if requested tonight.

Early Dismissal Parents are asked to pick their middle and upper school students up in between classes for appointments and early dismissal. Please instruct your child to come to the office in between classes for their appointment when they are being dismissed early. We will not allow interruptions to classes except in the case of an emergency. Please be mindful of this policy when making appointments. The daily schedule can be found on our website.

Parent Expectations Bring your child to school on time and pick them up on time. Refrain from dropping off items your child forgot to bring to school unless it is lunch. Respect the teachers and staff of the school by bringing any issues to their attention immediately, rather than discussing them with your friends or children. Schedule appointments for times that do not interfere with class time.

Dates for Your Calendar Fall Retreat for Grades 5-7, 9/8 – 9/9 Fall Retreat for Grades 8-9, 9/16 – 9/17 Street Dance at the School (Grades 5-9 – staggered), 9/19 Fall Book Fair, 10/22 – 10/23/15 Book Character Parade, 10/23/15 Fall Festival, 10/24/15 Winter Jam – grades 5 & 6, 1/15/16 Winter Dance – grades 7-9, 1/23/16

Questions?