MIDDLE SCHOOL 101 Everything you wanted to know about Maple Creek Middle School but were afraid to ask

GOALS OF MIDDLE SCHOOL Provide as safe and smooth a transition as possible from the small neighbourhood elementary school to the large world of the secondary school Assist students in becoming increasingly responsible through the three years at MS. We are not the same as a junior high!

Welcome to Maple Creek!

Maple Creek Middle School 625 students in grades 6-8 15 international 120 FI 44 teaching staff and 20 support staff 6 Teams of approximately 4 classes per team

What’s the Focus at Maple Creek? Becoming Respectful and Socially Responsible Citizens – locally and globally Making Positive Social Connections Strong Focus on Academic Achievement and safety and belonging

Becoming Respectful and Responsible Citizens

Making Positive Social Connections

Focus on Academic Achievement -Assessment as learning -Differentiated instruction

SIP Goal#1 – Improve reading skills

What are Teams? School within a school Groups of 3-4 classes 3-4 core teachers + 1 student services teacher Located in same area of the building Students spend 5 of 7 blocks each in the team each day, mainly with one core teacher Grade 8 is a transition year

Teaming Works for Kids… Teachers plan curriculum and activities together for the team Teachers within the team ‘share’ students Goal – every child has several adults to look after and care for them – including the homeroom teacher Student Services Model for the team

What will the day look like? Seven blocks per day 40 minutes each block Five blocks – CORE time within the team Two blocks – EXPLORATIONS time

  MON TUES WED THURS FRI HRoom HR 1 CORE 2 Break 3 EXPL 4 Lunch 5 6 7

What subjects will my child take? CORE: Language Arts Math Social Studies Science French as a Second Language

Who teaches these subjects? The majority of core subjects will be taught by the homeroom teacher Sometimes, another teacher on the team will trade subject areas with the homeroom teacher -Math Curriculum

Blended Classes Grade six and seven students in all classes at this level Differentiated instruction, bell curve and A/B year Students usually spend two years with the same core teacher “looping” Students, teachers and families all get to know each other Grade Seven students act as mentors to younger students each fall

What are Explorations? Not the same as electives Designed to give kids a ‘taste’ of what they might want to pursue in secondary school… Taught mainly by specialist teachers – Maple Creek has four specialist teachers who are all trained in their area

Explorations Subjects… PE – all year every second day Drama and Art – half year every second day Music, Computers, Tech Ed, Home Ec (Cooking and Sewing), 8 full weeks each

General Music

DRAMA

ART

Home Economics

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

It all looks like a lot of fun, but do they ever do any homework Students will be assigned homework on a regular basis On average, around 45 minutes per night Dependent on how much work gets done in class, projects, etc. Homework will be recorded on the board each day Beginning of the year – agendas signed School Website – class websites

What Support Services are Available? Full time student services teacher for each team Learning Assistance ESL Gifted Programming Resource Full time counsellor Full time youth worker

Extra-Curricular GET INVOLVED in a least one activity Something for everyone – “niche” Bring a friend – you don’t have to know how to do something in order to join that activity Bring your positive attitude …..”but, I’m not strong at…..”

Athletics Teacher volunteers, rely on parent support FALL – Volleyball, swimming, Mtn. Biking, Outdoor club (year round), cross country running, Field Hockey, football. WINTER – Basketball, Wrestling, Ski and Snowboard SPRING – Track and Field, Mtn. Biking, Badminton, Rugby NO CUT POLICY

Athletics

Grade Six – Co-Ed Non-Competitive

CLUBS AND GAMES

Lunch Time We are a CLOSED CAMPUS No ‘in’ and ‘out’ days Responsibility Intramurals…

Choir

Band

Spring Musical

Student Leadership

The Cafeteria…

GET INVOLVED Library, Green Team, Hawk Krew (numerous opportunities) Debate club, Games Club, Math Club, Yearbook, committees, me to we, …..there is something for everyone to meet new people and get connected with the school.

Intramural Program…

How Safe is Maple Creek? School Goal – continue to improve students’ sense of safety and belonging This is a core value – this year we will be focusing on a strand of social responsibility We constantly try to work on improving Ministry Satisfaction Surveys – we always score above the district and provincial averages on safety related questions

What about Bullying? We take it seriously We follow up on every incident that is reported to us We educate our kids about bullying through our advisory program, schoolwide programming and teachable moments We ‘protect’ kids who report bullying to the best of our ability BIGGEST CHALLENGE – kids who don’t report, “the code of silence”

Class Placements Goal – to create the most positive placement for every student Challenges – 440 Grade 6/7 students to place in the puzzle Grade balance, gender balance, ability balance, matching learning and teaching styles, pre-existing social and relationship issues

Transition to Middle School… P and VP have met with all grade five students for initial orientation session twice Currently meeting with all grade five parents Open House Fine Arts Afternoon Mid-May – teacher meetings and second visit with students World wide band tour June – Student tour of Maple Creek Individual visits and arrangements

We look forward to having you join us!!