1. Welcome to Algonquin Middle School Andrew Reinke, Principal Erik Jensen, Assistant Principal

2. 6th Grade Parent Orientation OBJECTIVES FOR THIS EVENING  Introduce the middle school curriculum  Describe a typical middle school day  Share upcoming transition activities

3. Middle School Day Student Hours: 8:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Student Hours: 8:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Main Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Main Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Students enter the building at 8:35 a.m. Students enter the building at 8:35 a.m. 6 th grade students have 9 class periods in a day 6 th grade students have 9 class periods in a day Passing periods are 3 minutes Passing periods are 3 minutes

4. Middle School Concept Team structure Team structure Core subjects Core subjects Common plan time Common plan time Integrated curriculum Integrated curriculum Better home/school Better home/schoolcommunication

5. Grades 6-8 Curriculum Math* Math* ELA* ELA* Social Studies Social Studies Science Science * Accelerated course offered

6. Assessment & Grading Middle school student grades are based on traditional letter grades. Middle school student grades are based on traditional letter grades. All courses utilize the D300 Middle School Grading Policy for determining student grades. All courses utilize the D300 Middle School Grading Policy for determining student grades. 5% Academic Behavior; 15% Practice; 40% Formative; 40% Summative 5% Academic Behavior; 15% Practice; 40% Formative; 40% Summative Students will participate in a variety of assessments to determine their grades. Students will participate in a variety of assessments to determine their grades. Parents are highly encouraged to sign-up for the District 300 Parent Portal as a way to monitor your child’s progress. Parents are highly encouraged to sign-up for the District 300 Parent Portal as a way to monitor your child’s progress.

7. Parent Portal Highly Encouraged/Recommended for all parents to have a parent portal. Highly Encouraged/Recommended for all parents to have a parent portal. Online Registration Only – At home, AMS kiosks, public library, district office Online Registration Only – At home, AMS kiosks, public library, district office There will be NO paper registration this year There will be NO paper registration this year Please Contact AMS Main Office (Bobbie Geegan) with portal ?’s Please Contact AMS Main Office (Bobbie Geegan) with portal ?’s

8. Digital Shift : Chromebooks All students will be given Chromebooks which will allow them to access their ELA digital materials All students will be given Chromebooks which will allow them to access their ELA digital materials Chromebooks will also allow teachers to utilize supplementary digital resources to complement the hard copy curriculum in other content areasChromebooks will also allow teachers to utilize supplementary digital resources to complement the hard copy curriculum in other content areas Parent meetings will be held over the summer Parent meetings will be held over the summer More information will be sent out before the end of the school year More information will be sent out before the end of the school year

9. Exploratory Education The philosophy of the D300 Exploratory Program is to offer students a variety of experiences. In sixth grade these experiences include: The philosophy of the D300 Exploratory Program is to offer students a variety of experiences. In sixth grade these experiences include: Art Art Technology I Technology I Technology II Technology II Study Skills Study Skills * Selected students at grade 6 have the opportunity to enroll in year-round AVID in place of Exploratory

10. Exploratory Education Seventh Grade Exploratory Classes Include: Seventh Grade Exploratory Classes Include: Art Art Technology I Technology I Technology II Technology II Study Skills Study Skills Eighth Grade Exploratory Classes Include: Eighth Grade Exploratory Classes Include: Art Art Technology I Technology I Technology II Technology II Study Skills Study Skills * Selected students at grades 7 and 8 have the opportunity to enroll in year-round AVID or Spanish in place of Exploratory

11. Band, Orchestra & Choir Band, orchestra and choir students meet as a group each day. Band, orchestra and choir students meet as a group each day. Students may elect to be in band/choir or orchestra/choir or just one music. Students may elect to be in band/choir or orchestra/choir or just one music. Students in two music classes will have an A/B schedule. Students in two music classes will have an A/B schedule. Students will also receive small group instruction/lessons for band and orchestra. Students will also receive small group instruction/lessons for band and orchestra. Student participation in reading and/or math interventions may impact the number of days of music participation. Student participation in reading and/or math interventions may impact the number of days of music participation.

12. Physical Education Sixth grade students receive PE every day for three of four quarters. Sixth grade students receive PE every day for three of four quarters. Students will receive Health during one of the four quarters. Students will receive Health during one of the four quarters. PE uniforms and locks are required. PE uniforms and locks are required. $6.00 for New Locks$6.00 for New Locks $5.00 for PE Shirts$5.00 for PE Shirts $10.00 for PE Shorts$10.00 for PE Shorts

13. Response to Intervention Universal Screening Data (Fall/Winter/Spring) Universal Screening Data (Fall/Winter/Spring) Data used to target skills in core curriculum by teachers and sent home to parents Data used to target skills in core curriculum by teachers and sent home to parents ELT: Extended Learning Time ELT: Extended Learning Time Reading and Math InterventionsReading and Math Interventions

14. Student Services School Counselors address both the academic and/or social/emotional needs of students School Counselors address both the academic and/or social/emotional needs of students School Counselors will provide: School Counselors will provide: Short term individual counselingShort term individual counseling Group counselingGroup counseling Large Classroom DiscussionsLarge Classroom Discussions Peer mediationPeer mediation If you or your child need to talk to a counselor please contact: If you or your child need to talk to a counselor please contact: Mrs. Vehrs: AMS Counselor Mrs. Vehrs: AMS Counselor

15. A Sample 6 th Grade Schedule 1 st Period: PE/Exploratory 2 nd Period:PE/Exploratory 3 rd Period:Core - ELA 4 th Period:Core - ELA 5 th Period:Lunch 6 th Period:Core - Science 7 th Period:Core - Math 8 th Period:Core - Social Studies 9 th Period:Extended Learning Time(ELT)/Music *PE/Exploratory average 45 minutes in length. *Core classes average 45 minutes in length. *Lunch is 30 minutes long. *ELT/Music average 35 minutes in length.

16. Cafeteria Cafeteria supervisors will go over specific rules the first day Cafeteria supervisors will go over specific rules the first day Payments are made in the cafeteria or online Payments are made in the cafeteria or online Student Meals Student Meals Cost for Tray Lunch: $2.75

17. Lines of Communication School Newsletter School Newsletter Website Website Infinite Campus Infinite Campus Parent Coffee Talks with the Principal (Quarterly) Parent Coffee Talks with the Principal (Quarterly) Report Cards Report Cards IC Messenger IC Messenger RCS Message RCS Message Mid-Terms Mid-Terms School Counselor School Counselor Lisa Vehrs (ext. 7108) Assistant Principal Assistant Principal Mr. Jensen (ext. 7106)

18. Middle School Transition Activities Parent Orientation Night Parent Orientation Night April 7, 2016 Elementary School Visits Elementary School Visits ALES – April 27 thALES – April 27 th EES – April 27 thEES – April 27 th Summer Orientation Summer Orientation 2 nd Week of August – Date and Time TBD2 nd Week of August – Date and Time TBD Fall Open House Fall Open House August 24 th – 6:30 -8:30 p.m.August 24 th – 6:30 -8:30 p.m. Parent-Teacher Conferences Parent-Teacher Conferences November 21 & 22, 2016

19. Parent Involvement PTO PTO Help fund student activities and programsHelp fund student activities and programs Support with PBIS CelebrationsSupport with PBIS Celebrations Chaperones and Office VolunteersChaperones and Office Volunteers Leave your email address at PTO table if interested in helpingLeave your email address at PTO table if interested in helping Sales/Fundraisers during lunch or after schoolSales/Fundraisers during lunch or after school

20. And Finally...