1. Montgomery Township School District Montgomery High School Class of 2017 Parent Orientation March 11, 2013

2. Montgomery Township School District Welcome to MHS Paul J. Popadiuk, Principal What to expect… Caring environment Challenging curriculum Excellent faculty Opportunity Preparation for successful life

3. Sample Student Schedule A DayB Day PeriodClassTime in Minutes PeriodClass 1AMath84 + 5 (HR)1BScience 2ASocial Studies842BStudy Hall Unit Lunch 50Unit Lunch 3APhys. Ed.843BElective (Art) 4AEnglish844BWorld Language

4. Montgomery Township School District Sample Student Schedule from Parent Resources (in block view)

5. Montgomery Township School District Sample Schedule from Parent Resources—list view

6. Montgomery Township School District Block Benefits A Unique Opportunity to Combine the Advantages of Block Scheduling and Collaborative Learning Teams Less Stress for Students – Focus on fewer subjects each day – Study Hall- The gift of time to complete HW – Unit lunch with friends – Deeper relationships with teachers and peers Similar to College Schedule

7. Montgomery Township School District Block Benefits Cont. Longer Classes: Differentiated Instruction –Teachers lecture less –Greater variety of activities –More time engaged in problem-solving –Greater retention and in-depth learning Social & Emotional Learning Skill Development

8. Montgomery Township School District Social and Emotional Learning Target Areas Self-EfficacyConscientiousnessSociabilityIntellect PersistenceGoal SettingBenevolenceCritical Thinking ResilienceOrganizationTeamworkCreativity FocusSelf-reflection and Self- evaluation Humility/ModestyLove of Learning Locus of ControlTime ManagementHumorWisdom Coping MechanismsMotivationGratitudeCuriosity ConfidenceHonestyCompassion and Forgiveness ValorPrudence/Self-controlResponsibility to others Leadership

9. Montgomery Township School District Communication Teacher first: establishing positive, conducive parent, student, teacher relations is paramount. Counselors may assist in this process. Supervisor second Principal last

10. Montgomery Township School District Special Education Joanne Tonkin, Supervisor of Pupil Services Full continuum of programs for eligible students to support overall success Supports include: collaborative consultation, in-class support, replacement courses, and a comprehensive language-learning disabilities (LLD) program.

11. Montgomery Township School District Special Education Joanne Tonkin,Supervisor of Pupil Services Study skills, career planning and work study are also provided in response to individual student needs. Community-based instruction is an integral component to the LLD Program. Child study team case managers remain with their students from the 9 th grade through the 12 th grade.

12. Montgomery Township School District Guidance Department Corie Gaylord, Vice Principal The vision of the Guidance Department is for all students who graduate from Montgomery High School to have the ability and personal resources to: understand themselves and others, understand career pathways and options, resolve personal problems, make informed decisions, manage conflict, make a successful transition from school-to-college or school-to-career, and be life-long learners.

13. Montgomery Township School District Mission Transition! March 13 – Course Selection Program at UMS Distribute P.O.S. and Course Selection Worksheet March 18 - 22 - Scheduling Counselors meet with 8th grade students to discuss academic courses. Students should bring Course Selection Worksheet with them June – Rising Freshman visited at UMS by Peer Leaders Learn about student life at MHS August - Freshman Orientation Students will have the opportunity to meet with a Peer Leader, sign up for extra-curricular activities, walk their schedule and even visit their new locker!

14. Montgomery Township School District Graduation Requirements English4 years Health/PE4 years US History2 years World Studies1 year Math3 years Science3 years World Language1 year Visual/Performing Arts1 year 21 st Century Life and Career1 year OR Tech Education Financial and Entrepreneurial½ year Literacy Pass High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA). It is anticipated that the Biology End-of-Course (EOC) Assessment will be a requirement for the graduating class of 2017.

15. Montgomery Township School District English Department John Anagbo, Supervisor of English 9th Grade English Introduction to Literature & Composition 9 Introduction to Literature & Composition 9 – Honors Honors Course Expectations Summer Reading

16. Montgomery Township School District English Department John Anagbo, Supervisor of English Electives available for 9 th grade students Introduction to Drama I and II Public Speaking (the above qualify for Visual and Performing Art credits) Expository Writing

17. Montgomery Township School District Mathematics Department Jennifer Riddell, Supervisor of Mathematics Algebra 1 (Part 2) Math I Math Connections I: NJ ASK 8 --remediation

18. Montgomery Township School District Mathematics Department Jennifer Riddell, Supervisor of Mathematics Elements of Geometry –Prerequisite: HS Algebra I (Part 2) Geometry –Prerequisite: 70% in HS Algebra I (Part 2) Geometry Honors –Prerequisite: 85% in Algebra I Honors or a 95% in Algebra I

19. Montgomery Township School District Mathematics Department Jennifer Riddell, Supervisor of Mathematics Algebra II Honors –Prerequisite: 85% in Geometry Honors (or 95% in Geometry CP) and 85% in Algebra I Honors (or 95% in Algebra I CP) Precalculus Honors –Prerequisite: 85% in Algebra II Honors or 95% in Algebra II CP

20. Montgomery Township School District Social Studies Department Adam Wright, Supervisor of Social Studies 9th Grade Requirement: World Studies – Presents a global focus from The Italian Renaissance through today – Integrates geography and writing skills

21. Montgomery Township School District Social Studies Department Adam Wright, Supervisor of Social Studies World Studies Honors –For motivated students who want to challenge themselves by exploring the curriculum in greater depth –Stresses critical reading, writing and thinking in the subject area

22. Montgomery Township School District Social Studies Department Adam Wright, Supervisor of Social Studies Great Expectations – Links World Studies with Literature and Composition –Integrates reading, writing, and study skills –Creates a global focus from European Feudalism (911AD) to modern times – Utilizes differentiated instruction and heterogeneous classes Limited to 50 students

23. Montgomery Township School District Business, Technology & Family & Consumer Sciences Chris Reginio, Vice Principal Technology Education –21 st century –Options Business Education –Career Exploration Financial Literacy—graduation requirement Family & Consumer Sciences

24. Montgomery Township School District Visual & Performing Arts Adam Warshafsky, Supervisor Music –Band Program –Choir Program –Orchestra Program –Electives Art –Studio Art –Photography –Animation –Digital Design

25. Montgomery Township School District World Languages Department Jenny Egas, Supervisor 9 th Grade students continuing in French, German, and Spanish will be placed in the following levels based on teacher recommendation: French I, II or III German I, II or III Spanish I, II or III * Please note that teacher recommendations should be followed to ensure appropriate placement and avoid confusion

26. Montgomery Township School District World Languages Department Jenny Egas, Supervisor Other languages offered to freshmen include: –Latin –Mandarin Chinese (heritage students will be evaluated in order to be placed appropriately to benefit their learning)

27. Montgomery Township School District Health/Physical Education Department Damian Pappa, Vice Principal Health: Adolescent Wellness Fitness and Team Sports/Lifetime Activities Facilities

28. Montgomery Township School District Co-Curricular Activities Damian Pappa, Vice Principal Academic Clubs Service Clubs Student Government Visual and Performing Arts

29. Montgomery Township School District Athletic Department Tony Maselli, Director of Athletics Website - http://www.mtsd.k12.nj.us Great source for information: Important dates, schedules, forms. All students participating in a sport must have an annual physical examination. We provide one at UMS & MHS in June Eligibility Requirements All freshmen are eligible for fall sports – No requirements At the end of the 1 st Semester – Must be passing 15 Credits At the end of the year – Must have passed 30 credits Parent/Athlete Handbook

30. Montgomery Township School District Science Department Jason Sullivan, Supervisor of Science Sequence of Studies: Physics (9th grade) Chemistry (10th grade) Biology (11th grade) Elective (12 th grade)

31. Montgomery Township School District Science Department Jason Sullivan, Supervisor of Science (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology are all offered at four levels) For example: Applications of Physics Physics Honors Physics AP Physics

32. Montgomery Township School District Science Department Jason Sullivan, Supervisor of Science Applications of Physics Physics Physics Honors Emphasis on guided-inquiry instruction Courses will meet for 84 minutes on the A/B Block Schedule –There is no additional lab period scheduled

33. Montgomery Township School District MHS – Physics First & Modeling Science Program of Study –Physics / Chemistry / Biology “In a beginning course in physics, students explore their own notions about common, everyday phenomena, discuss their observations with peers, and draw conclusions that can be tested. They begin to make predictions, practice data collection and graphing techniques, apply some mathematical skills to real situations, and start to make sense of their observations.” Physics First: An Informational Guide for Teachers, School Administrators, Parents, Scientists, and the Public (AAPT 2009)

34. Montgomery Township School District Addressing Preconceptions

35. Montgomery Township School District Diagnostic Tools

36. Montgomery Township School District Models vs Problems The problem with problem-solving –Students come to see problems and their answers as the units of knowledge. –Students fail to see common elements in novel problems. “But we never did a problem like this!” Models as basic units of knowledge –A few basic models are used again and again with only minor modifications. –Students identify or create a model and make inferences from the model to produce a solution.

37. Montgomery Township School District What Do We Mean by Model? with explicit statements of the relationships between these representations

38. Montgomery Township School District Multiple Representations with explicit statements describing relationships

39. Montgomery Township School District I - Model Development Students in cooperative groups –design and perform experiments. –use computers to collect and analyze data. –formulate functional relationship between variables. –evaluate “fit” to data.

40. Montgomery Township School District I - Model Development Post-lab analysis –whiteboard presentation of student findings –multiple representations » verbal » diagrammatic » graphical » algebraic –justification of conclusions

41. Montgomery Township School District Preparing Whiteboard

42. Montgomery Township School District Making Presentation

43. Montgomery Township School District Implementation Issues Modeling is a methodology, not a set of curriculum materials. (No one road to Rome, but no magic bullet either.) Teacher must adjust approach to local conditions. Formidable teacher learning curve. One key skill: managing and elevating student discourse.

44. Montgomery Township School District Implementation Issues Culture shock: All Stakeholders –Students Use constructed models to solve problems –Teacher Consensus leader, chief of questions, no final authority –Parents Question transformed from “What did you do in science class?” to “Explain how the class developed a consensus on this problem?” and “What is the underlying model for this physical phenomenon?”

45. Montgomery Township School District Science Department Jason Sullivan, Supervisor of Science Information to help make course level selection. –8 th Grade Teacher Recommendation –Assessment of Basic Math Skills –9 th Grade Math class

46. Montgomery Township School District

47. Thank You for Coming