1. COMMUNITY HOUSE MIDDLE SCHOOL
STUDENTS PLEASE SIT WITH YOUR PARENTS
Note cards are for parent questions that arise during the presentation. We will attempt to answer as many as we can during this evening. If your question is not answered, please put your on the note card and drop your card with me at the end of the evening.

2. Congratulations!
Welcome to Middle School…your first BIG educational transition  Mom and Dad….Stop Worrying…. At CHMS, we are a TEAM. Everyone is working together to create a successful experience for your child and you.

3. A top middle school in the state with regards to growth composite
Student Demographics
1925 Students
Approx. 8% ED
51.8 % White
12.7 % African American
12 % Hispanic
21.1 % Asian
One of only a few CMS middle schools to receive a grade of “A” from the state
A top middle school in the state with regards to growth composite

4. A Current Day at CHMS 9:15am – 4:15pm
A Current Day at CHMS 9:15am – 4:15pm **Before and After-School will have programs at CHMS
Arrival - Do not drop off prior to 8:45am
Lockers
First Block – Academics - tardy if not seated in class at 9:15am
Second Block – Academics
Lunch
Enrichment Block
Third Block – Academics
Fourth Block - Electives

5. BLOCK SCHEDULE Students take 4 core classes per year:
Language Arts & Math everyday
Science & Social Studies 1st semester/2nd semester ** This is NEW
Students take 4 semester electives per year. They rotate on an A-Day/B-Day basis. All students take PE/Health for a semester.

6. CHMS Is So Big…Will My Child Get Support?
Team/Community Approach
Guidance Counselors
Grade Level Administrators
Academic Counselor
Welcome Week
Tutoring

7. CHMS Is So Big…Will My Child Have Fun?
Athletic Events **
Academic Competitions
Middle School Madness (YMCA)
Dances
Team Spirit Week
Grade Level Celebrations
Club Opportunities

8. CHMS Is So Big...Will My Child Be Safe?
CSA and SRO monitor/circulate the halls and villas
Grade Level Hallways
Security cameras and buzz-in system
Visible Administrators
Full-time Nurse and 3 Trained First Responders
All Visitors Must Sign In and Receive a Photo Badge
Parents Must Show ID when Picking Up a Child
No tolerance** for bullying…including cyber-bullying

9. Let’s Talk About Cyber-Behavior
One of our biggest behavior challenges results from Social Media. Mom and dad, are you familiar with:
Finsta
Instagram
Snapchat
It takes all of us monitoring the students…You need to know what your child is doing behind the screen

10. Will the Children Be Held to High Behavior Standards?
School-Wide Discipline Plan – Team Sheets
Rights and Responsibilities Handbook enforced consistently
Dress Code
Cell Phone/Electronics Policy (1 to 1 school)
Tardy Policy
No Exceptions

11. CHMS Is So Big…How Will I Know What Is Going On?
Every other Friday, we publish a newsletter highlighting the events in our school – The Community House Courier
It will be ed to you. Sign up for our listserv now…Link on the Website (School Resources…CHMS Courier Sign Up). You can begin getting these sent to you NOW 
PTO website: communityhousepto.weebly.com
Get connected on Remind
to or sign up on the PTO website
All teachers are required to have a webpage where class information is updated weekly.

12. A word from our kids…
Questions from Rising 6th graders answered by our current 8th grade student leaders…

13. Let’s talk course selection…and what you’re hearing in the community
You will need to complete your yellow registration card and return it to your 5th grade teacher by APRIL 1
You will enter your course REQUESTS into Power School by April 1
Leveled course in Math is open access BUT you need to consider data and teacher recommendation when selecting – we do not change schedules in the fall
TD certification is NOT a requirement for honors math courses

14. How Do I Select Academic Courses?
Levels of Math -All students will follow the NC Standards as this curriculum is the foundation for all higher level courses.
Honors Math 6 – This course will follow the 7th grade NCSCOS. There will be opportunities for 6th grade standards to be brought into units, but the core curriculum will be the 7th grade standards.
Math 6 – This course will follow the 6th grade NCSCOS.
Math I** - This year, as a result of the increase in personalized learning across our feeder pattern, we will offer an “Algebra readiness” exam to ensure we are meeting the needs of our highest achieving students. You may choose to bring your child in to sit for this exam on either May 11th at 9am or May 18th at 9am. We will contact families IF the data indicates a need to consider a higher course than Honors Math 6
The math standards require a large amount of critical thinking, mathematical reasoning and written explanation of conceptual understanding.
If your child struggles with reading comprehension and written expression, you may want to consider Math 6 as the pacing will provide ample time for your child to build on these skills.
Schedule changes can rarely be accommodated once the school year begins.

15. Math Trajectory Standard Track =Math 6 Math 7 Math 8
High School = Math I Math II Math III Pre-Calc
Honors Track = Math 7 Math 8 Math I
High School = Math II Math III Pre-Calc AP Calc
**Alternate Track = Math 7 Math I Math II
High School = Math III Pre-Calc AP Calc AP Stats

16. How Do I Select Academic Courses?
Language Arts
This year CMS is adopting a new ELA curriculum for ALL 6th grade language arts students in the district. With this change in curriculum, differentiation for reading levels will be built into the lessons. Therefore, we will be heterogeneously grouping our students in ELA. We believe that this what is BEST for ALL children. We teach to the top and differentiate down for students if they struggle. All students need to be given rigorous tasks and texts and all children need to be pushed to excel. With this new curriculum and new approach we believe our students will build academic skills across the board while also building much needed self-confidence and belief in their abilities.

17. How Do I Choose Honors or Standard Math?
Consider your child’s standardized test scores, MAP data, classroom performance, and historical grades.
Talk with your child’s current teacher…what does he/she see on a daily basis in the classroom?
Parent will have final decision as we are using open access philosophy…use the data…set your child on the right path.
Signature on the registration card is acknowledgement of the course you desire and your understanding that there will be no schedule changes.
**We will permit changes in June should your EOG data indicate the need for a different level. Please Ms. Cobb if this is the case.

18. How Do I Select Academic Courses?
All Students take Science and Social Studies which are NOT leveled. Teachers differentiate within the classroom to meet individual needs for acceleration/remediation. These two courses generally provide the biggest “discomfort” for 6th grade students during the first grading period.
All Students take Health/PE for one semester. Students must wear CHMS gym uniform for PE which is purchased through the Athletic Booster Club in August.

19. How Do I Select Electives?
You may select 3 semesters of electives (PE is the 4th).
You may either choose 3 semester courses OR one year and one semester course.
If your child wants Band or Orchestra, he/she will select that plus ONE other course
If your child DOES NOT want Band/Orchestra, he/she will choose three semester courses.
Must complete an Instrument Permission Form
No guarantees of instrument
All music students will meet with the band or orchestra teacher before school begins for instrument assignment purposes

20. How Do I Select Electives?
Arts Classes
Dance/Drama Wheel
Chorus/Drama Wheel
These courses are separated in grades 7 and 8
You may sign up for both arts wheels but
you will get drama twice

21. How Do I Select Electives?
Foreign Language
This course is exploratory and is not a pre-requisite to the 7th/8th grade course
You may select Spanish or French (no longer a wheel)
Foreign Language is NOT a middle school necessity. **There are implications for taking MS foreign language.

22. How Do I Select Electives?
Keyboarding and Basic WP will focus on Word Processing and Digital Literacy
Exploring Careers and Employment will look at careers within the science, technology, engineering and math fields. Each of these Computer courses may only be taken ONCE in MS.
PLTW – Design and Modeling (Robotics)
Journalism/Debate will explore creative writing, news writing and elements of debate
Fit for Life will focus on physical fitness and proper nutrition (can only take once in MS)
You will also select alternate choices as elective placement is not guaranteed.
**All classes subject to change based on staffing /2020 Budget constraints.

23. How to Complete Course Registration in Powerschool
This year all course selection will be completed in Power School
You will need to know your PS Login or your child’s login
The window to complete course selection is currently open and will remain open until April 1
Students that do not complete the online registration by April 1 will have the school complete it for them
There is no benefit to “being the first one done.” It is NOT first come, first served
We also do not take teacher requests.

24. Parent Portal Student NCEDcloud
Login to PowerSchool 1. Parents can access through the parent portal: cms.powerschool.com 2. Students can access through their NCEdcloud accounts
Parent Portal Student NCEDcloud

25. Click on the Class Registration icon

26. Follow the directions carefully
Follow the directions carefully. You have successfully completed an area when you see a green check mark next to the pencil icon.  a. You will be selecting the courses that you have already chosen on your registration card.  b. Pick the number of classes you are told to pick in each area.  c. The computer will not allow you to leave blanks unless instructed to do so. d. Required classes have been selected automatically.

27. When done, click on the submit button at the bottom of the page
When done, click on the submit button at the bottom of the page. If you did everything as instructed, it will accept your requests. If you left something blank that is not supposed to be blank, it will not accept any of your choices.

28. Course Registration Reminders
Course sections must be made in Powerschool and course selection cards returned to Homeroom teachers prior to April 5 (Rising 6th)
If you are unable to enter your requests in Powerschool, please indicate so under the signature section on the course registration card.

29. Notes from the PTO
The Community House PTO Needs You!  Serving on the CHMS PTO is easy and fun, and helps you stay connected to what's happening around our school.  With over 1900 students, more than 100 teachers and staff AND lots of activities planned, the PTO needs parents! Time commitments vary and opportunities are available for any schedule.  Please see the PTO volunteers in the hall for more information on the ways you can get involved

30. PTO Mission Statement
It is the PTO’s mission to support our teachers and staff as well as foster an environment within the entire school community that will support and help the school ensure that all students will achieve success.

31. Volunteers Needed!!
We LOVE our volunteers and we need more!  Many hands make light work. . . and in a school of over students, we sure need many, many, many hands! If you are interested in volunteering, please take a moment to fill out this brief survey:

32. Get Connected!! Sign-up for the PTO Newsletter, The Courier
Sign-up for ConnectEd from the principal, Mrs. Brooks
Sign-up for Remind -- to get text or reminders from the CHMS PTO.
To: 81010
*Can find links on the PTO website, m/
Get Connected!!

33. We look forward to working with you for the next three years 
A Few Last Notes…
Feel free to walk the building and look around
There will be another Open House in the summer where you will get to meet your teachers, learn more specifics, buy PE uniforms and required readings.
Be looking for summer assignments…they are required!
Begin collecting Box Tops for PTO, Link CHMS at Harris Teeter and Publix
or with any questions
We look forward to working with you for the next three years 

34. CHMS PE Uniforms

35. CHMS SPIRIT WEAR

36. CHMS SPIRIT WEAR

37. WELCOME TO COMMUNITY HOUSE MIDDLE SCHOOL
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION IS OUR PRIMARY FOCUS
We Are Glad You Are Part Of Our Team!