Franklin Regional Middle School An Introduction to the Middle School and Scheduling Information for Grade 6 Spring, 2005 Shelley Shaneyfelt Christopher Kelly Principal Assistant Principal

Overview This meeting will provide you with information about the Middle School program as well as helping you make schedule choices.

Our Middle School will... Provide every child with a caring adult mentor This is a partnership with parents during this critical time in a young person’s life Provide a flexible, challenging curriculum Use varied teaching and learning approaches Use assessment and evaluation that promote learning

Middle School Layout

Students will ride buses that are exclusively for the Middle School. The buses will run from about 7:20AM until our start time at 8:05AM. The student day will be from 8:05AM until 2:53 PM. The three grades will be on separate schedules for most of the day.

Some Facts about the Middle School Day... All students will start the day with a short homeroom period. Our student-produced cable news show, Primetime 5, will give daily announcements and present features. At this point, each grade level will begin its own schedule.

Some Facts about the Middle School Day... The 6th grade hall will have only 6th grade classes in it while the 6th grade is in academic core time. None of the grade levels will mix with each other when they are in the shared special areas for Middle Core classes.

Some Facts about the Middle School Day... Even though there will be about 950 students in the building, most of the time students will feel like they are in a smaller building because of the House system. House teachers will work together to meet the needs of the students they share. There are 4 Houses in Grade 6.

Some Facts about the 6th Grade Day... The same counselor will stay with a group of students as they move through the grade levels. Mr. Brian Coiner will be your child’s counselor. 6th grade students will move from homeroom into the Middle Core portion of their day.

Some Facts about the 6th Grade Day... The 6th grade Middle Core facts: This will be the equivalent of 2, 45 minute periods each day. During the Middle Core part of the day, sixth grade students from every house will mix. Middle Core courses will last for 12 weeks, 1 trimester each. This means you have room for the equivalent of 6 trimesters.

Scheduling the 6th Grade Middle Core... Please look at the Selection sheet and your 6th grade pie charts. We are looking at the Green

Middle School Middle Core

Scheduling the 6th Grade Middle Core... Note that all students are required to schedule one Physical Education course each year. This takes 1 trimester. Every student will schedule 6 trimesters.

Scheduling the 6th Grade Middle Core... The Performance Music courses each require 3 trimesters. The following are the Performance Music courses: Chorus Band Chorus/ Band

Scheduling the 6th Grade Middle Core... The other Middle Core classes require 1 trimester each The following are the grade 6 Middle Core choices: Visual Arts 6 – 2D / 3D Principles of Technology 6 FACS- Young Living Physical Education (required for all students) Multi Media 6

Scheduling the 6th Grade Middle Core... The following are the grade 6 Middle Core choices: Music 6 - Music Ace/ Guitar Business Sampler Keyboarding FitKids

Scheduling the 6th Grade Middle Core... Please fill all 6 blank lines, two for each of your pie charts. Remember that you must put Band, Chorus and Band/Chorus in 3 pies if you are taking these courses. Do you have any general questions about the Middle Core?

Some Facts about the 6th Grade Day... 6th grade students will move from the Middle Core portion of their day into the first Academic Core part of the day at 9:50 AM.

Middle School Academic Core

Some Facts about the Academic Core... The Academic Core is the major part of each day. You do not need to mark anything in the Academic Core at this time. Academic Core is the Red

Some Facts about the Academic Core... During the Academic Core, students will be in their houses. Houses consist of three or four teachers and about 75 students (three teacher houses) to 100 students (four teacher house). House teachers have their classrooms in close proximity to each other in the first floor main hall.

Some Facts about the Academic Core... Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science are taught in the Academic Core Teachers decide how to divide the approximately 5, 45-minute instructional periods each day. This is what they currently do.

Scheduling the 6th Grade Academic Core... You do not need to schedule anything in the academic core at this time. Specific groupings such as those in math, will be made at a later date. Do you have any questions about the Academic Core?

Some Facts about the 6th Grade Day... Exploratory period will run from approximately 11:15 until 12:00. Exploratory is Yellow

Middle School Exploratory

Some Facts about the 6th Grade Exploratory... 6th graders will mix with other houses during Exploratory. Academic Core teachers will teach the exploratory offerings.

Some Facts about the 6th Grade Exploratory... Exploratory will consist of three components: A World Language French Spanish Academic Extensions such as Stock Market; SAL; Creative Writing; Geo Puzzlers; Math Bogglers; Ready, Set, Internet; Debate and Persuasion; Ext. math; Ext. reading; Critical/Creative Thinking; Study Skills etc. Playing By the Rules games and recreation, conflict resolution

Exploratory Components World Language -(Sept-Nov) One trimester(all 6 days) Playing by the Rules (Dec-March) One trimester (all 6 days) Academic Extensions (Mar-June) 2 -30 days each (Days 1-3, Days 4-6) One trimester total

Scheduling the 6th Grade Exploratory... Everyone takes Playing By the Rules This is marked for you on the first pie

Scheduling the 6th Grade Exploratory... You need to schedule the World Language that your child would like to take at this time. This language will be the language that your child continues to study in 7th and 8th grade. Please mark your language choice on the blank line in the second pie (2nd trimester)

Scheduling the 6th Grade Exploratory... You need to write 2 choices for academic extensions on the blank lines in the third pie (3rd trimester) Each of these courses will last for 30 days. The first 15 minutes of each class will be Sustained Silent Reading. Do you have any questions about Exploratory?

Some Facts about the 6th Grade Day... 6th grade students will eat the last lunch (it is late!) So that you are all productive and happy, 6th grade teachers schedule a time for a snack at about 10:30 6th graders will all eat together from approximately 12:45 until 1:15.

Some Facts about the 6th Grade Day... Lunch Lunch is Blue

Middle School Lunch

Some Facts about the 6th Grade Day... The Academic Core teachers will decide how to divide Academic Core time each day. There will be no standard class change times Nothing from the rest of the program can interfere with instruction in the Academic Core. Sixth grade students have all of their academic core classes in the sixth grade wing.

Some Facts about the 6th Grade Day... What questions can I answer?

Coming Soon... You will receive confirmation of your selections in May. Special placements (math) will be made in May Schedules will be mailed in July You will be getting more information about future orientation and information meetings throughout the rest of the school year and in the summer June 2nd is our first orientation for all incoming 5th graders Our summer orientation is August 17 -10:00AM

Thank you for coming! If you think of questions, please give us a call. You are welcome to visit at your convenience. Please give us a call so that we can help arrange your visit.

Thank You