Building the Foundation for High School and Beyond

 Tonight’s Goals  Be Informed  Be Comfortable  Be Excited

Jennifer Drautz Principal Janelle Lyons School Counselor Karen Belgiovine Principal’s Secretary Office Manager Mariel Chu School Social Worker Team 6 Dan Chaize, Science Emily George, ELA Jon Glisson, Social Studies Brenda Zeh, Math Joan Baron, Consultant Teacher

College and Career Readiness Academic & Social Skills Academic Behaviors High School Readiness OUR GOAL To ensure that all middle school students have attained the knowledge and skills to be prepared for their future.

 Stay involved in your child’s education;  Stay aware of your child’s homework and school demands;  Attend school events;  Try to connect outside experiences to school learning to increase interest and relevance! Tips for Parents

 Ensure that your child has the materials and place to study at home;  Set a regular time for homework;  Encourage your child to be responsible for organization and homework;  Provide your child with a range of experiences to allow him/her to identify areas of strength;  Talk to your child. Tips for Parents

 Provides academic, social and emotional support to students  Provides individual counseling, group counseling, classroom presentations and career exploration opportunities  Meets with all 6th grade students in small groups within the first month of school  Coordinates parent-teacher conferences

 Great Teachers  Rigorous Curriculum  Common Core State Standards Increased rigor (e.g., text complexity in grades 7 & 8)  Aligned K – 12  Academic Events  Medieval Day  Civil War Day  Character Day  Guest Speakers  Field Trips

 Math Acceleration Starts in Grade 7  Moved from grade 6 to 7 a few years ago  Based on guidance received as a result of NYS adopting the Common Core State Standards  Complete Two Years of Math in Grade 7  Take Algebra I in 8 th Grade  Other Pathways  Can take the “Challenge Exam” at the end of 7 th grade  7 th grade teacher can recommend during the year

 Science Acceleration begins in Grade 8  Key concepts from Grade 8 Science are integrated into Science in Grades 6 & 7  Earth Science in Grade 8  Current Rubrics for Math and Science are on our website

 Social-Emotional Component  Staff Counselor Social Worker School Psychologist  Guest Presenters and Events Anti-Bullying/Positive Behavior Speakers/Presenters Internet Safety Speaker  Character Education Team Themes Building Theme, P.R.I.D.E. Principal’s Reception Community Service Initiative, “One in a Minion”

 Social-Emotional Component  Buddy Program 7 th graders speaking to 6 th graders  Moving Up Day for 6 th Graders  Theme-based events in each grade level Grade 6 = Teamwork Grade 7 = Pay It Forward Grade 8 = Power of Positive Thinking  Advisory

 Builders’ Club  Student Service Activities throughout year  Student Council  Book Fairs  Student Book Swap  Service Activities  Lego Robotics  Jazz Ensemble  Lunch time assemblies

 Blackbird TV  Morning Announcements  Drama Club  Yearly Show  Drama Production Review  Intramurals  Fall and Winter  Yearbook Club  Concerts

 Teen Nights  Approximately 5-8 per year  Theme Days  Crazy Hat Day  Sports Jersey Day  Teen Book Club  Sponsored by the public library

 Student Response Systems  “Clickers”  SMART Boards  Mounted Projectors  Computer Lab, update to Innovation Lab  Carts  Chromebooks  iPads  Google Accounts  Student Collaboration  Multi-Media Projects  “Green Screen” Videos

 Drop-Off Before School  Parking lot by the VMS Wing  Pick-Up and Drop-Off During the Day  Use the VMS Main Entrance  Electronic Devices  Best option: Left at home or in locker  Allowed during lunch/recess, on bus, classrooms at teacher discretion  Notes (Dismissal other than Home)  Brought to the VMS Main Office in the morning

 Parent Portal  Log-in ID and password  Student grades  Progress Reports  Report Cards  SNN  Change your preferences so you get weekly middle school messages  Purple Newsletter  Homework Hotlink  Middle School Website

 Tonight’s Parent Orientation  Counselor Lessons in Class (1 st Week of June)  Middle School Ambassadors  Moving-Up Day (June 22 nd )  Meet the Grade 6 team  Tour the School  Locker Night (September 1 st )

 Posted on the VMS Website  Under “Headlines” on the right side

We look forward to working with you and your child!!