Welcome to VCMS Middle School 101 April 28, 2015

 Our Faculty  Supporting our new 6 th graders  Our Schedule & Courses  Parent Involvement  Community Involvement  Upcoming transition events  Questions VCMS 101: Agenda

 Drew Hayes  Van Lewsader  Karen Ogline  Derek Piper  Mandy Malcolm  Amy Ingram

VCMS Teachers are… Simply the best!

 Projected enrollment for = 1310 Total students th graders  We welcome 6 th grade students from the following elementary schools: Kelly Mill Midway Vickery Creek Whitlow

 Power Time – Tuesday, Wed., Thursday  Counseling Dept.  Graduation Coach  Mentors

Some things are different in middle school -- ◦ Dropping off forgotten items ◦ Dress Code ◦ Locker ◦ Outside fast food prohibited by county policy

 In order to limit interruptions to instruction, we do not call into classes to have students retrieve forgotten items such as lunch or schoolwork.  Parents may bring these items and they will be placed on the wooden bench by the front officefor their child to pick up.  Parents can the teacher if an item has been brought to school.

 Follow the Forsyth County dress code – in the FCSS Code of Conduct  Length of skirts and shorts – fingertip guideline  Backpacks pull up dresses and skirts flip up in back  Kids grow fast!  No skin/holes in pants above fingertip length guideline  No leggings or jeggings unless the top is fingertip length  Tops – no inappropriate language, tank tops, cleavage, see-through or midriff showing

 Getting ready to use a locker at school  Items to purchase and those to avoid  Sample lockers.....

 As you can see from the examples, there is not a lot of room for extras. Many students who purchase the decorations, quickly learn that other important items don’t fit...like their books and a coat!  Not all lockers shelves fit into our lockers but our PTO sells the right size in the school store and at Viper Camp

 Develop healthy relationships by accepting differences; understand that friendships may change because our students come from four different elementary schools  Limit and monitor social network use. Instagram, etc. tend to exaggerate the typical squabbles and social challenges of middle school students. 

 Develop consistent routines with timelines, physical activity and bedtime – computers, phones & TV  Develop a healthy balance between academic expectations and extracurricular activities.  Develop self-discipline and responsibility by establishing strong study habits with a set time and place to study at home every day

Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Deputy AG Campbell School Resource Officer Unit Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Operations Division Duane K. Piper, Sheriff

 Its not just a phone anymore… ◦ , Text, Social Media, Cameras, GPS and more!

 Its not just a phone anymore… ◦ , Text, Social Media, Cameras, GPS and more!  Phones are now hand-held computers  Cell Phones are more difficult to monitor  Phones are used without supervision Duane K. Piper, Sheriff

58% of 12-year-olds have a cell phone. Does this mean that your child should have one? Instead of the “appropriate age,” focus on the needs of your child and your family. Does your child need an easy way to contact you? Do you trust him or her to be responsible with a cell phone? Have you set clear guidelines for the use of mobile devices ? Lenhart A. Teens and Mobile Phones. Pew Internet & American Life Project, Duane K. Piper, Sheriff

 The Internet contains lots of information ◦ Some of it is not appropriate for children  Misspelling a web address  Clicking an advertisement ◦ Harmless acts can expose a child to inappropriate content!!  Sexually Explicit Material ◦ Many children are learning about sex from the internet  Flawed views and opinions of their self-image and sexuality, which could affect their development. Duane K. Piper, Sheriff

 Illegal Activities ◦ Drug Use ◦ Video instructions on:  Picking locks  Playing alcoholic drinking games  Making bombs. ◦ Other sites encourage dangerous behaviors:  Cutting  Anorexia  Suicide -Tips about how to hide the behaviors from family and friends.

Duane K. Piper, Sheriff SNAPCHAT: Commonly used by teens to Sext WICKR: Commonly used by teens to Sext (Similar to SnapChat) KiK: Text/ over WiFi Used to get around Parental restrictions INSTAGRAM: Default is Public View Turn Off GEO-Tagging VINE: Similar to Instgram allows for video sharing 6 sec loops TUMBLR: Mini-Blog App (Monitor for inappropriate content, Pornography) Ask.fm: Anonymous posting and question answer Yik Yak: Anonymous Location Based

Personal iPhone or Android, free NQ Vault iPhone or Android, free Hide it Pro iPhone or Android, free The app is cleverly disguised as "Audio Manager" in the App Drawer. Disguises itself as a Audio Manager app which can be used to turn the volumes up and down. but if you Long press on the Audio Manager title the actual Hide It Pro app will launch, which is basically your secret vault of pics/videos/messages/apps etc. App Lock Android, free Duane K. Piper, Sheriff

 Student Agendas  itsLearning  Parent and Campus Portal   Voice Mail  Call Messenger  Messenger

 Website  Facebook and Twitter  PTO Newsletters  Parent Conferences  Vickery Vantage Point –school newsletter

 7 period day – 54 minute periods  5 Academic classes + 2 Connections  Power Time 3x per week  A-B-C weekly rotation  9 week Connection classes

 “A” Week  1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd, 4 th, 5 th, 6 th, 7 th  “B” Week  1 st, 6 th, 7 th, 2 nd, 3 rd, 4 th, 5 th  “C” Week  1 st, 4 th, 5 th, 6 th, 7 th, 2 nd, 3 rd  On Tuesday-Thursday, a 25 minute Power Time segment will take place between the first two academic classes of the day.

 Language Arts  Math  Science  Social Studies  Reading

 Teachers and administrators have reviewed student data to determine the best placement for students.  Parents will be able to view their child’s recommended courses on-line.  We hope to have that feature live by the week of May 18 and be open until May 29.  Instructions will be available on our website starting on May 15.

VCMS Connections :  Art  Band  Chorus  Computer Literacy  Drama  Health  Math Plus  Physical Education  SOAR  Study Skills  Technology

VCMS Connection Formats :  Band or Chorus plus four randomly selected Connection classes.  8 randomly selected Connection classes.  If you have not gone online to select your child’s Connection format, please do so by Friday, May 1.

BAND Instrument Tryouts: In August, during the first two weeks of band classes.

 Clubs  Intramurals  Dances  Special Days

 Football  Football Cheerleading  7 TH Grade Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball  8 TH Grade Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball  Basketball Cheerleading  Track  Golf

 Supportive  Involved  Welcome!

 Finding classrooms  Lockers  Knowing the school ◦ Teachers ◦ Courses ◦ Assignments  Peer Pressure  Communication  Medical notes

Your help is needed and wanted! Parent Teacher Organization: Copy Mom/Dad School Store Calendar Dances Hospitality Fund Raising Newsletter Open House Special Events- Red Ribbon Week Other Ways to be Involved Media Center Local School Council Mentors

PTO Board _______________ Co -Presidents- Michelle Hall Sandy Dickerhofe Vice President – Julie Smith Treasurer – Cori Williams Secretary – Lori Kneeburg Parliamentarian – Meri Munce

Local School Council Election tonight Renae Force Laurie Vandergrift

 May 14– 5 th grade students participate in field trips to VCMS for a guided tour  August 3– 6 th grade Viper Camp- 9:00 -11:30 Takes the place of Open House for 6 th graders Parents in the gym Students in homeroom August 3 - Regular Open House for 7 th & 8 th graders 4:00-6:30

 Agendas (paid by PTO)  Lockers - $5.00  Lunch Accounts  PE Uniform $20.00  Supply List  Discipline  Dress Code  * Please plan to arrive promptly by 8:45. – students should report directly to their homeroom teacher’s classroom. Parents will be attending helpful breakout sessions, until reuniting with students at 11:30.