 Gum hiding  Mind changing  Pencil breaking  Note crumpling  Toe tapping  Allegiance changing  Hair tossing  Girl dreaming  Boy dreaming  Seat squirming  Pocket searching  Day dreaming  Make-up checking  Window watching  Note writing

 Aiming the teaching arrow at a moving learner target.  A range of emotions experienced by all those lucky enough to call themselves middle school teachers.

Advisory9:40-10:02 a.m. Period 110:05-10:57 a.m. Period 211:00-11:52 a.m. Period 311:55-12:47 Period 4 & Lunch 12:50-2:20 p.m. Grade 6 and 7(A) Lunch: 12:50-1:25 Grade 8 and 7(B) Lunch: 1:45-2:20 Period 52:23-3:15 p.m. Period 63:18-4:10 p.m.

Middle Grades students will start their school day in Advisory. The goal of Advisory is for increased student engagement and to build relationships.

6 th Grade Courses Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies and Read, Write, Create. Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies and Read, Write, Create. All middle grade students have one hour per day of Specialists. All middle grade students have one hour per day of Specialists. Each student has Health and Physical Education each week as required by MPS Each student has Health and Physical Education each week as required by MPS Student electives include: Music, Art, Band, Rock Band, Middle School Choir, Advanced PhyEd and Advanced Art Student electives include: Music, Art, Band, Rock Band, Middle School Choir, Advanced PhyEd and Advanced Art Selection of electives is done online in the spring Selection of electives is done online in the spring Students with questions about their schedule should visit the office after school starts in August Students with questions about their schedule should visit the office after school starts in August Spanish language class begins in 7 th grade. Spanish language class begins in 7 th grade.

Language Arts Teachers - Peg Eiden, Debra Krawetz and Matt Streit Course content: Reading, writing, spelling, grammar, speaking, listening and group work. Reading, writing, spelling, grammar, speaking, listening and group work. Books- no “textbook”; handouts and class novels, instead. Books- no “textbook”; handouts and class novels, instead.

Mathematics Teacher - Jeff Tousignant Connected Math Program (CMP) curriculum Course content: Integers, similarities, fractions, probability, pre-Algebra and Intro to Algebra. Integers, similarities, fractions, probability, pre-Algebra and Intro to Algebra. Accelerated Math

Science Teachers - Kim Kirk and Diane Weiher Course content: Models and designs, human brain and senses, experimenting with plants and energy, and machines and motion. Models and designs, human brain and senses, experimenting with plants and energy, and machines and motion. Books - classroom set of texts. Books - classroom set of texts.

Minnesota Studies Teachers - Kim Kirk and John Wood Course content: Minnesota History Minnesota History Books - classroom set of Northern Lights textbook. Books - classroom set of Northern Lights textbook.

Read, Write and Create Teacher – Rebecca Wright Course Content: This course covers English Language Arts standards not covered in the other language arts course with an emphasis on the writing process.

Band/Orchestra Options Band will meet on Mondays and Tuesdays during specialist. Band will meet on Mondays and Tuesdays during specialist. Jazz band will meet M/W/F before school (8:30 – 9:30). Jazz band will meet M/W/F before school (8:30 – 9:30). Orchestra meets before school on T/Th (8:30 – 9:30). Orchestra meets before school on T/Th (8:30 – 9:30). * If a student takes band, he/she will also have PE/Health which leaves one day for an “elective.”

Rock Band/Choir Rock band will meet on Thursday (and maybe Fridays) during specialist time. Rock band will meet on Thursday (and maybe Fridays) during specialist time. Choir will meet Tuesday and Wednesday during specialist time. Choir will meet Tuesday and Wednesday during specialist time. * If a student takes band, he/she will also have PE/Health which leaves one day for an “elective.”

Sample Specialist Schedules No band/choir: M – music; T – art; W – PE; Th – advanced art; F – Health No band/choir: M – music; T – art; W – PE; Th – advanced art; F – Health Band: M/T – band; W – Health; Th – Adv PE; F – PE Band: M/T – band; W – Health; Th – Adv PE; F – PE Choir: M – PE; T/W – Choir; Th – Adv Art; F- Health Choir: M – PE; T/W – Choir; Th – Adv Art; F- Health

Please visit the website to sign up for specialists

Environmental Education and Community Building

Tentatively planned for early April. Chaperones needed.

 Students arriving to school at 9:40 are considered late.  Students need about 10 minutes to get to their locker, gather their school supplies and get to class before the bell rings at 9:40.

Middle school is a short flight of stairs away, but can be an organizational leap for many. Some tips to help students learn how to be organized in middle school:  Academic ownership - let students be responsible. (We learn from our mistakes.)  Check teacher’s websites on Monday for the week’s learning goals and homework assignments.  Check Student Portal each Thursday to catch missing assignments.  If absent, check in with teachers upon returning to school to find out what was missed.  Want more help? Kim Kirk offers an ALC for Organization & Academic Support after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:15-5:45.

- Middle-school teachers have classroom websites that are updated weekly. Check the website first for information. - Students are responsible for managing their homework by keeping track in their agenda books or using a method suited to their learning style that has been ok’d by their teachers. - Students and parents can use Parent Portal to check student progress, grades, and missing work. The student should follow-up with teachers for missing homework or concerns about grades received. - Some classrooms use Google Docs and school for communication. Students will be shown how to access these tools in the fall, if they don’t already know how.

 Parents can view their child’s grades and attendance online. ◦ To access this information you will need to complete the security request form from the link on the Lake Harriet Community School website and return it to the main office. ◦ You will need your child’s birthdate and MPS Student ID #. ◦ You can find the student ID# on the copy of the student schedule.

Student agenda books can be purchased for $5.00 from your student’s advisory teacher. Agenda books are used in all classes to record important information about assignments and due dates. Lockers are assigned by advisory teachers. Students are encouraged to use lockers to lock their valuables. You may bring your own lock or purchase a lock at school for $5.00.

 Conferences take place in October.  Sign up for conferences will be handled by the advisory teachers. Some may use SignUpGenius, others may ask for sign up via communications.  Advisory teachers will be prepared to discuss overall student performance and will have feedback from all of the student’s teachers. Concerns about specific subject areas may be directed to individual teachers.

Students’ dress must be appropriate to the school setting and not be distracting, offensive, or discriminatory.

 While in school, cellphones should not be visible. Students are encouraged to keep their cell phones in their locked locker.  If a staff member sees a student using a cell phone in school the cell phone will be taken and turned into the office.  1 st confiscation: pick up at the end of day; 2 nd confiscation: parent pick up; 3 rd confiscation: parent/admin meeting.

 We recommend labeling clothing, lunchboxes, books, binders, planners, electronics etc. so you can get them back if you lose them.  Use a lock on your locker!  Activate “find my iphone” and emergency contact ID.  Check the lost and found frequently.

 or call the teacher.  or call one of the support staff members: School Psychologist, or School Social Worker. School Psychologist - Julie Hirsch (T & W) School Social Worker - Lynne McCoy (M-F)

 Thank you for your continued support of your middle grades student. Working together we know this can be a successful transition to middle grades.  At this time we can answer a few general questions. We want to respect confidentiality and therefore ask if you have a question specific to your child please wait until after the presentation.