Welcome to Our Middle School!

We’d like to introduce the middle school’s…We’d like to introduce the middle school’s…

*Programs*Programs*Curriculum*Curriculum*Teaming*Teaming*Scheduling*Scheduling

……and answer any and answer any questionsquestionsyou may have!you may have!

People

to

know:

Dr. Ronald Dyer

Superintendent

PRINCIPALS:

Dr. Sue Cathcart Principal

Mrs. Kelly Kessler Assistant Principal

COUNSELORS:

Mr. Andy Thompson Head of Guidance

Services

Mrs. Ali Wabnik Grade 7

Nurse

Mrs. Jennifer Coeyman

Teachers / Teams

Team letters will be mailed in August

Knowledge Inc. Aspire Masterminds Omega Excel

Ali WabnikBackground

York Suburban High School Graduate University of Maryland – Bachelors

Secondary Education Spanish Language and Literature

Johns Hopkins University – Masters School Counseling

Experience: 5 years at Dallastown Middle School 2 years at Gaithersburg High School

How Are Students Feeling About Starting Middle School? I am looking forward to going to middle school.I am looking forward to going to middle school. I am excited and a little nervous.I am excited and a little nervous. I heard that kids seem to like middle school. I heard that kids seem to like middle school.

However, these same kids love to tell horror However, these same kids love to tell horror stories about what goes on there.stories about what goes on there.

If they ask me once more if I am scared, I think If they ask me once more if I am scared, I think they will convince me that I am.they will convince me that I am.

My parents are the ones who are really My parents are the ones who are really nervous.nervous.

The Middle School: CHANGES!

Usually these changes aremuch harder on the parents than on the middle schoolers!

**Emotionally:Emotionally: independence/self-identity independence/self-identity**Physically:Physically: puberty strikes! puberty strikes!

**Socially:Socially: friends, interests, activities friends, interests, activities

Top 10 Things Middle School Parents Can Do To Help Their Child1.1. Continue with what has worked in the past. You know your Continue with what has worked in the past. You know your

child the best!child the best!2.2. Help your child develop good study habits and Help your child develop good study habits and

organizational skills.organizational skills.3.3. Foster your child’s self esteem and identity by encouraging Foster your child’s self esteem and identity by encouraging

them to explore a wide variety of academic and non-them to explore a wide variety of academic and non-academic opportunities that the middle school offers.academic opportunities that the middle school offers.

4.4. Get involved in your child’s education and school. This Get involved in your child’s education and school. This stage of your child’s academic career is just as crucial as it stage of your child’s academic career is just as crucial as it was when they entered kindergarten.was when they entered kindergarten.

5.5. Listen and support your child. Allow your child the Listen and support your child. Allow your child the opportunity to make mistakes while remembering to be opportunity to make mistakes while remembering to be supportive of teachers’ expectations.supportive of teachers’ expectations.

Top 10 Things Middle School Parents Can Do To Help Their Child (cont’d)

6.6. Reassure your child that it is perfectly normal to feel Reassure your child that it is perfectly normal to feel anxious about meeting new friends.anxious about meeting new friends.

7.7. Make it a point to place the home computer in a Make it a point to place the home computer in a family-traveled area.family-traveled area.

8.8. Get to know who your child’s friends are.Get to know who your child’s friends are.

9.9. Regularly communicate with your child’s teachers Regularly communicate with your child’s teachers and school counselor.and school counselor.

10.10. Check the Home Access Center and team’s website.Check the Home Access Center and team’s website.

How can parents prepare? Attend all meetings/orientationsAttend all meetings/orientations Check grades on HACCheck grades on HAC Read handouts, booklets, and mailingsRead handouts, booklets, and mailings Read about adolescence-PTO libraryRead about adolescence-PTO library Trust your instinctsTrust your instincts Be firm, fair, calm, and consistentBe firm, fair, calm, and consistent Let kidsLet kids learnlearn from mistakes from mistakes

A counselor’s roles/jobs:

Work with same group over a two-year spanWork with same group over a two-year span Help with academic and social/emotional Help with academic and social/emotional

strugglesstruggles Lead specific student groups: social skills, Lead specific student groups: social skills,

organization, grief/loss, etc.organization, grief/loss, etc. Meet with team teachers at least once a weekMeet with team teachers at least once a week Serve on the student assistance team (SAP)Serve on the student assistance team (SAP) Develop the schedules for studentsDevelop the schedules for students Help in any way we can! Help in any way we can!

Leveling/Scheduling

Math – There will be three levels.Math – There will be three levels. Level A1 – Algebra Math Skills (advanced pace)Level A1 – Algebra Math Skills (advanced pace) Level A2– Algebra Math Skills (average pace)Level A2– Algebra Math Skills (average pace) Level B – Pre-algebra Math SkillsLevel B – Pre-algebra Math Skills

Language Arts – There will be three levels.Language Arts – There will be three levels. Level Three – Advanced program (with accelerated instruction)Level Three – Advanced program (with accelerated instruction) Level Two – Average ProgramLevel Two – Average Program Level One – Basic ProgramLevel One – Basic Program

*Social Studies and Science will be grouped according to *Social Studies and Science will be grouped according to level of Language Arts.level of Language Arts.

Leveling

How will students be placed?How will students be placed? Can students be multi-leveled?Can students be multi-leveled? Can a student change levels during the Can a student change levels during the

year?year? Who schedules the students in Who schedules the students in

teams/classes?teams/classes?

DIVERSITY in abilities:

Hearing ImpairedHearing Impaired Neurologically ImpairedNeurologically Impaired Emotional SupportEmotional Support Speech ItinerantSpeech Itinerant IST help: Mrs. TerrosoIST help: Mrs. Terroso English Language LearnersEnglish Language Learners Physically DisabledPhysically Disabled Regular EducationRegular Education Special EducationSpecial Education Gifted and TalentedGifted and Talented

Gifted and Talented Program

Students who have been tested and Students who have been tested and identified as identified as Gifted and TalentedGifted and Talented

Students will participate in a Students will participate in a seminar-like seminar-like pull-out program.pull-out program.

Specific details will be explained at Spring Specific details will be explained at Spring IEP conferences, or you may contact Mrs. IEP conferences, or you may contact Mrs. Connelly, Gifted Teacher at 244-4021.Connelly, Gifted Teacher at 244-4021.

Learning Support Program

Tested and identifiedTested and identified Collaborative settingCollaborative setting Assigned to a learning support teacher Assigned to a learning support teacher

assisted by a paraprofessionalassisted by a paraprofessional

Grading Policy:

100-90 A100-90 A 89-8089-80 BB 79-7079-70 CC 69-6069-60 DD 0-590-59 E E

OutstandingOutstanding OO

SatisfactorySatisfactory SS

Needs Improvement NNeeds Improvement N

UnsatisfactoryUnsatisfactory U U

Home Access Center (HAC)

The Home Access Center provides The Home Access Center provides information about your child’s schedule, information about your child’s schedule, courses, graded assignments, and report courses, graded assignments, and report card grades.card grades.

HAC is accessible at any time through the HAC is accessible at any time through the link on Middle School Webpage with your link on Middle School Webpage with your child’s student ID and password.child’s student ID and password.

More information will be sent home in the More information will be sent home in the August Principal’s Newsletter.August Principal’s Newsletter.

Homework Protocols

Student Responsibilities:Student Responsibilities:1.1.Each student shall be responsible Each student shall be responsible for completing homework for completing homework assignments as directed.assignments as directed.

2.2.Knowing what homework has Knowing what homework has been assigned, and to make sure been assigned, and to make sure the assignment is understood.the assignment is understood.

3.3.Taking necessary materials home Taking necessary materials home to complete homework to complete homework assignments.assignments.

4.4.Completing assignments Completing assignments accurately, neatly and on time.accurately, neatly and on time.

Parent Responsibilities:Parent Responsibilities:1.1.To be knowledgeable of the To be knowledgeable of the teachers’ homework expectations.teachers’ homework expectations.

2.2.To provide a suitable study area for To provide a suitable study area for the child in the home.the child in the home.

3.3.To encourage independence in To encourage independence in completion of homework completion of homework assignments.assignments.

4.4.To be available to assist in To be available to assist in reinforcement of basic skills.reinforcement of basic skills.

5.5.If concerns or questions arise If concerns or questions arise dealing with homework, to contact dealing with homework, to contact the classroom teacher.the classroom teacher.

Electronic Devices – Student Policy Students are not permitted to carry cell Students are not permitted to carry cell

phones, digital cameras, iPods, or other phones, digital cameras, iPods, or other electronic games with them during school electronic games with them during school hours. hours.

When a student is found carrying any When a student is found carrying any electronic device during the school day, it electronic device during the school day, it will be confiscated and locked in the office.will be confiscated and locked in the office.

We cannot and will not be responsible for We cannot and will not be responsible for lost, damaged or stolen personal items. lost, damaged or stolen personal items.

Seventh Grade Teams: When forming 7When forming 7thth grade teams, the students in all grade teams, the students in all

three wings of the Intermediate School are mixed three wings of the Intermediate School are mixed to encourage new friendships, diversity, and unity to encourage new friendships, diversity, and unity as one middle schoolas one middle school

There are 5 seventh grade teamsThere are 5 seventh grade teams Teams are composed of 4 teachers (science, social Teams are composed of 4 teachers (science, social

studies, math and language arts)studies, math and language arts)

A Typical School Day at DMS:

Arrival: Enter through front doors!Arrival: Enter through front doors! Before 7:20 A.M.: report to the caféBefore 7:20 A.M.: report to the café Between 7:20-7:45 AM: report directly to Between 7:20-7:45 AM: report directly to

locker to deposit all coats, books, locker to deposit all coats, books, backpacks; report to HOMEROOMbackpacks; report to HOMEROOM

School day: 7:45 – 2:52 School day: 7:45 – 2:52 Activity Buses: 4:20 / 5:35-PM MS front lobbyActivity Buses: 4:20 / 5:35-PM MS front lobby

THE FIRST DAY! Bus rider information sent home in August or call Bus rider information sent home in August or call

the transportation officethe transportation office Find homeroom and team areasFind homeroom and team areas Homeroom teachers will look for students and Homeroom teachers will look for students and

help them with lockers, room locations-teachers help them with lockers, room locations-teachers escort students to every locationescort students to every location

Lunch can be bought or packed; the pin number Lunch can be bought or packed; the pin number used at DAIS remains the same. A la carte items used at DAIS remains the same. A la carte items are offered along with the main menu choices.are offered along with the main menu choices.

Materials for the First Day:Students are given:Students are given:

-assignment book -assignment book including the including the handbookhandbook

-schedule-schedule

-opening day papers-opening day papers

including picture formsincluding picture forms

Communication:Communication:-Team newsletters -Team newsletters will be mailed home will be mailed home in August. in August. -The team websites -The team websites will include will include information on information on needed student needed student supplies. supplies.

Activities at DMS:

GET INVOLVED!GET INVOLVED! BandBand ChorusChorus OrchestraOrchestra Student councilStudent council IntramuralsIntramurals AssembliesAssemblies Class partiesClass parties Interscholastic SportsInterscholastic Sports

Security and Safety: ““Buzz in” system for locked doors; all visitors sign in at Buzz in” system for locked doors; all visitors sign in at

office counter; visitor tags issued; blue staff tags worn office counter; visitor tags issued; blue staff tags worn CODE RED drills practicedCODE RED drills practiced Fire and severe weather drills practicedFire and severe weather drills practiced Adult supervision at all times; telephones in roomsAdult supervision at all times; telephones in rooms Passports used to leave assigned roomsPassports used to leave assigned rooms High school students stay separate from MS studentsHigh school students stay separate from MS students ““No tolerance” policy for weapon/drug violationsNo tolerance” policy for weapon/drug violations All medications distributed and kept by nurseAll medications distributed and kept by nurse Bullying prevention programBullying prevention program

Orientation: Get to know your way around the MS!

Sixth graders visit the MS: Sixth graders visit the MS: May 3rd – Blue Community May 3rd – Blue Community May 9th – Yellow Community May 9th – Yellow Community May 10th – Red CommunityMay 10th – Red Community

Parent/Student self-tours will occur in AugustParent/Student self-tours will occur in August 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

77thth Grade Meet the Teacher Night will occur in September Grade Meet the Teacher Night will occur in September 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

First day of school: First day of school: August 22nd

Miscellaneous Q & A:

How and when do parents meet the teachers?How and when do parents meet the teachers?

1.1.Teachers are always available to meet when parents Teachers are always available to meet when parents request a conference (7:20 AM/2:50 PM)request a conference (7:20 AM/2:50 PM)

2.2.Meet the Team Night: SeptemberMeet the Team Night: September

3.3.Fall conferences: November Fall conferences: November

4.4.Spring conferences: MarchSpring conferences: March

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

Please come down front to ask any individualized questions Please come down front to ask any individualized questions that have not already been addressed.that have not already been addressed.

The presentation you saw tonight can be found on the Middle The presentation you saw tonight can be found on the Middle School Guidance Webpage.School Guidance Webpage.

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING—YOUR INTEREST THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING—YOUR INTEREST AND CONTINUED SUPPORT ARE AND CONTINUED SUPPORT ARE

ALWAYS APPRECIATED!ALWAYS APPRECIATED!