Principal Lisa KunzeAssistant Principal Allyson BregerCurriculum Coordinator Melissa LimeCounselor, 6th & 7th A-J Barbara SeatonCounselor, 7th K-Z & 8th Tanya Moseley

Middle School in GeneralThe State of Florida requires the following for promotion each year:Pass Language Arts Pass MathPass SciencePass Social Studies (World History)Additional requirements:• Intensive Reading if FCAT Reading is Level 1 or

2• Intensive Math if FCAT Math is Level 1 or 2

Schedule

Swiss Point students take 7 courses on an alternating day schedule.Silver Day – 3 classesBlack Day – 3 different classes“Skinny” at the beginning of the day – 1st

periodBlock classes are 90 minutes in length,

“Skinny” is 48 minutes.Wednesday – 1pm dismissal

Core Courses (Required)Language Arts* – standard or advancedMath 1 – standard or advancedComprehensive Science 1* – standard or advancedSocial Studies* (World History) – standard or

advanced

* Indicates courses that parents and students can choose to take as standard or advanced based on 2014 FCAT Reading scores and grades from 5th grade.

• Our recommendation is……..If 2014 FCAT Reading Level is a 3, only take 1 advanced courseIf 2014 FCAT Reading Level is a 4, only take 2 advanced coursesIf 2014 FCAT Reading Level is a 5, then you can choose to take all 3 advanced courses

MathStudents are PLACED in math based on their 2014 FCAT Math level.If 2014 FCAT Math is Level 1 or 2 – students will be placed in Math 1 standard blocked with Intensive Math, so they have math every day for 90 minutes.

If 2014 FCAT Math is Level 3 – students will be placed in Math 1 standard.

If 2014 FCAT Math is Level 4 or 5 – students will be placed in Math 1 Advanced.

Math Progression6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12thMath 1 Math 2 Pre-Alg Algebra

1Geometry

Algebra 2

Trig/An. Geo

6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12thMath 1 Adv

Math 2Adv

Pre-Alg Algebra 1Honors

GeometryHonors

Algebra 2Honors

Pre-Calculus

Algebra 1Honors

GeometryHonors

Algebra 2Honors

Pre-Calculus

AP CalcAB

6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12thMath 1 Adv

Algebra 1 Honors

Geometry Honors

Algebra 2 Honors

PreCalculus

AP Calculus AB

AP Calculus BC ORAP Stats

Non-core Courses 3 non-core courses are taken each year.

In 6th grade, students take…..Physical Education (year-long)Exploratory Wheel (year-long) (Computer Skills &

Reading Plus)

There is only choice in the 3rd non-core course….Band* OR Chorus OR MS Beginning Spanish OR Teen Leadership (Critical Thinking)

*$135 fair share fee along with instrument purchase or rental fee required.

Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Services…Students with an IEPTo help students who are mainstreamed and will earn aregular diploma in high school, we will offer the

following:Reading support with ESE Co-Teacher in World History

and Intensive Reading for all level 1 & 2 students.Math support with ESE Co-Teacher in Math 1 blocked

w/Intensive MathMath support facilitation with ESE teacher in Math 1 for level 3 students.• Reading support facilitation with ESE teacher in World for level 3 students.Consultation

Intensive Reading & Intensive MathStudents scoring Level 1 or 2 on 2014 FCAT

Reading MUST take Intensive Reading.Students scoring Level 1 or 2 on 2014 FCAT Math

MUST take Intensive Math.

If 1 intensive course is required, student takes intensive course in lieu of choice non-core.

If two intensive courses are required, student takes intensive courses in lieu of choice non-core and PE.

All students will take Exploratory Wheel (Computers).

Gifted ServicesEP written at end of 5th grade and is good

through middle school.

Gifted students take all 3 advanced classes – Language Arts, Science & Social Studies (unless noted on Option Verification form).

Teachers have gifted endorsement or are obtaining the endorsement.

Students are placed together in 2 blended sections.

2014-2015Senate Bill 736 states that in 2014-2015 Florida will….•Be standards-based•Every course will have an exam at the end (EOC) that will measure how much the student has learned. The score will count towards the student’s grade and will count towards 50% of the teacher’s evaluation•Students will take the ??? in Reading and Math starting in 2014-2015.•FCAT 2.0 will exist only for Science in 8th grade.

What does Standards-based mean?Teachers are teaching the content-area academic

standards outlined by the FL Standards or NGSSS.

Teachers have broken the standards into learning goals or objectives that state what the student must be able to know or do to demonstrate knowledge of the standard.

Students and teachers know exactly what standards a student has met and what still needs to be learned.

Grades correlate to what a student truly knows.

3 Tiers of EOCs1st Tier - State EOCs – Algebra*, Geometry, Biology,

United States History & Civics (Midde School) High School EOCs must be passed to earn credit *Must pass to earn high school credit. All other State EOCs count 30% of the final course

grade.

2nd Tier - District EOCs – created for all other courses using a test bank provided by the State.

3rd Tier – District Consortium developed EOCs for courses with smaller numbers (mostly electives.)

Cognitive ComplexityLow-complexity items rely heavily on recall

and recognition.

Moderate-complexity items require more flexible thinking and may require informal reasoning or problem solving.

High-complexity items are written to elicit analysis and abstract reasoning.

Percentage of Points by Cognitive ComplexityFCAT 2.0 Reading

FCAT 2.0 Math

FCAT 2.0 Science

Grades Low Moderate High6th & 7th 15-25% 50-70% 15-25%8th 10-20% 50-70% 20-30%

Grades Low Moderate High6-8th 10-20% 60-80% 10-20%Alg & Geo 10-20% 60-80% 10-20%

Grades Low Moderate High8th 15-25% 40-60% 25-35%

Example of Low Cognitively Complex Question

You are investigating whether robins prefer one type of bird seed over any other type. Your independent variable is the type of bird seed used. What should be your dependent variable?a.The amount of bird seed in your feeder.b.The number of birds visiting your feeder.c.The number of robins visiting your feeder.d.The cost of the different types of bird seed.

The SI unit of time is the ________.a. Second b. Minute c. Hour d. Day

Example of Moderate Complexity QuestionBill wants to find which laundry detergent is the best at getting food stains out of clothes. He sets up an experiment to test 2 detergents. He spills spaghetti sauce on 2 identical shirts, making sure that the stain on each shirt is the same size. He uses the same temperature and amount of water in the washing machine. The only thing he changes is the kind of detergent. He uses Brand X on one shirt & Brand Y on the other.Is this a fair test?a.Yes, he tested all the variables at once in each test.b.Yes, he changed only one variable in each test.c.No, he tested all the variables at once in each test.d.No, he changed only one variable in each test.

Example of High Complexity QuestionMr. Brink’s physical science class has been challenged to find the density of a rock. The class divides into 4 teams but the teams share the same rock so their data can be compared. They know they need to first find the mass and the volume of the rock. Then they can calculate density. The teams each record their results in a table.

Analyze the data from Mr. Brink’s science class in a complete paragraph.

Students entering 9th gr 2013-2014Standard Diploma4 credits in English4 credits in MathMust have Algebra & Geometry3 credits in ScienceMust have Biology3 credits in Soc StudiesWorld, US, Gov & Econ1 credit in Fine & Performing Arts, Speech & Debate or Practical Arts1 credit in HOPE*8 elective credits1 online course

Scholar DiplomaIn addition to Standard Diploma…Pass the ELA Grade 11 statewide assessment once implementedEarn 1 credit in Alg 2 and pass State EOCEarn 1 credit in statisticsPass the Biology EOCEarn 1 credit in Chemistry or PhysicsEarn 1 credit in a course equally as rigorous to chemistry or physicsPass the State US History EOCEarn 2 credits in the same World LanguageEarn at least 1 credit in Advanced Placement, IB, AICE or Dual Enrollment

*HOPE=Health Opportunities through Physical Education

REQUIRED VaccinationTo enter 6th grade starting in 2014-2015 students

MUST have proof of 2 Varicella Disease vaccinations (chicken pox) or document that they have had Varicella Disease.

Documentation MUST be on a FL 680 Form – Certificate of Immunization.

The certificate must be signed, dated & stamped.Students will NOT be allowed to attend classes in

August until we receive an updated FL 680 Form.

Check with your child’s current school to determine if vaccination requirement is already met.

If the school states this requirement is already documented in the computer under immunizations, then your child is good to go for 6th grade.

If the school states this requirement is not documented, then contact your child’s physician for an appointment.

The elementary school can enter the documentation once received, so your child is good to go for 6th grade.

Always keep a copy of your child’s shot records for your personal files.

Vaccinations continued…………

Dress CodeSwiss Point students follow the District Dress

Code on pages 12 & 13 of the District Code of Conduct.

Shorts, skirts & dresses must be no shorter than 4” above the knee even if tights are worn.

No holes in jeans 4” above the kneeNo low cut shirtsNo Spandex or yoga pantsNo sleeveless shirts or dresses

Backpacks & PhonesLarge backpacks can be carried to and from

school, but MUST be stored in their locker during the day.

ONLY drawstring bags can be carried to classes.

Phones MUST be turned off and put away during the day. They may not be used until off campus.

6th grade camp2 day camp - $60

Flyer out in April to sign-up

Wednesday & Thursday, July 30th & 31st

7:30am to 2pm

Raider RapPlease log onto the Swiss Point MS website

and sign up to receive the weekly electronic Raider Rap.

http://www-raider.stjohns.k12.fl.us/

Questions