1. Dr. John Folks Middle School 2017-2018

2. Dr. John Folks Our Namesake, Northside ISD Superintendent – 2002-2012
Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Dean, School of Education Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Midwest City-Del Mar Public Schools Supt.
Spring ISD (Houston) Superintendent

3. Parent concerns and apprehension
Anxiety…Nervousness...

4. Key Campus Staff Principal ~ Shawn McKenzie
Vice Principal ~ Yvette Lopez
Assistant Principal ~ Robert Alvarado
Academic Dean ~ Ann Devlin
Head Counselor ~ Freida Donzis, Head Counselor
Counselor ~ Angel Mitchell
SE Coordinator ~ Emily Wilson
GT Specialist~ Mrs. Totah
Police Officer ~ Officer Cris Valenzuela
Nurse ~ Melissa Perez
Attendance Secretary ~ Margaret Schaefer
Daniel Coronel ~ Club LT Site Leader

5. Mission Statement Mantra:
As a unified community, Dr. John Folks Middle School will provide a safe and nurturing experience built upon innovative, engaging instruction that meets the needs of our diverse learners.
Mantra:
Welcome to the best middle school in Texas
If we say we are the best...walk the talk
A place of excellence
Respect: cornerstone of our character education
Be a leader
Live by the Folks Code

6. Folks Code F: Future O: Opportunity L: Leadership K: Knowledge
S: Success

7. School Improvement Goals
Relationships and Culture
Data to drive instruction
Engagement

8. Student Success Continuum
Culture
Challenge
Clarity
Context
Engagement
Relevance
Why?
Domain 2 Instruction
Data Tracking
Assessment
Curriculum
What?
Domain 1 Planning
Domain 3 & 4
Environment and Practice
Relationships
PLC/Mission/SIP
Differentiation/Rigor
How?
Intervention/Enrichment

9. Elementary vs. Middle School
The SAME
The DIFFERENCES
Core Subjects
Student ID #
Homework
Grades & CDB’s
Parent Connection
Great Teachers
8 Periods a day
Passing between Classes
7 teachers
Six weeks Grading Period
Different School-day Hours
(8:30am– 3:40pm)
Year-long Elective Course
P.E. (dressing out & showers)
Lockers (two of them!)
Lunch Choices
Mobile Technology
NO Shorts : (

10. Our School Day Building OPENS @ 7:30 AM
* Enter doors closest to the fine arts wing
* Pull Up as far as possible
Students move to grade-level waiting 7:50
First class starts at 8:30 AM
Seven 45-minute classes & one 90-minute
30-minute Lunch (around 11:00 AM)
4 minute Passing Periods
Last class ends at 3:40 PM
Buses start leaving at 3:50 PM

11. 6th Grade Academics English Language Arts & Reading (ELA) (90 minutes)
Math
Science
Social Studies
P.E.
Elective Class (choice of 1)
Advisory (daily for 45 minutes)
Lunch – 30 minutes

12. Advisory Daily class period for all 6th graders
Opportunity to incorporate organizational and study skills
Targeted interventions
Time for study hall and SSR

13. Academic Services Pre-AP Classes (Math & ELA)
GT (ALPHA) through ELA, social studies, or science
Special Education Support (Co-teach classes, specialized instruction, ALE, BMC, etc.)
Tutoring (before & after school)
Reading & Math Specialist (SCE)
Academic Dean (Ms. Devlin)
Parent Connection & Student Connection
Counseling Services (Mrs. Donzis & Mrs. Mitchell)
Club LT (Learning Tree) After-School Program

14. Course 1 or Pre AP 6th Math Course 2 or Pre AP 7th Math
2 Pathways for Math
Pre AP route allows 8th graders to receive High School Credit for Algebra
Course 1 or Pre AP 6th Math
Course 2 or Pre AP 7th Math
Course 3 or Algebra

15. Electives Band Choir Orchestra Art Theatre Arts FCS I & II (7/8 only)
Spanish I & II (7/8 only)
I.T. Production (7/8 only)
Tech. Expl. (7/8 only)
Journalism (7/8 only)
Office Assistant (8 only)
Study Hall

16. Art Pathway Art III Art III Pre AP Art 1 High School Art II
8th grade
Art III
Art III Pre AP
Art 1 High School
7th grade
Art II
6th grade
Art I Middle School

17. Orchestra
8th Grade
Advanced
7th Grade
Intermediate
6th Grade
Beginner

18. Electives availability is determined by: 1) The number of student requests 2) Allocated staff ALL Electives are YEAR-long courses.

19. Course Cards 1) Students will select their top THREE elective choices (rank order them) **Electives will not be changed once the year starts.

20. We Encourage Parents to…
Play an active role in the education of your child
Form partnerships with your child’s teachers
Monitor your child’s academic progress
Communicate concerns, questions, ideas to campus staff – EARLY!

21. We Encourage Parents to…
Allow some space for growth.

22. Kahoot.it

23. B: Bring Y: Your O: Own D: Device
*** With privilege also comes responsibility
*** Digital Citizenship

24. Cyber-Safety
Highlighting some important things about cyber-safety in middle school.

25. Why Cyber-bullying is different...
Cyber-bullying can happen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and reach kids even when they are alone. It can happen any time of day or night.
Cyber-bullying messages and images can be posted anonymously and can be distributed quickly to a very wide audience. It can be difficult and sometimes impossible to track the source.
Deleting inappropriate or harassing messages can be extremely difficult after they have been posted or sent.

26. Preventing Cyber-bullying
Be aware of what your kids are doing online.
Establish rules about technology use. (click this link for contract)

27. Parent 411

31. S.N.A.P. Forms S.N.A.P. stands for Students Needing Assistance Pronto.
S.N.A.P. will help Folks students create a safe, school environment.
S.N.A.P. will give Folks students a safe place to let adults know of possible hurtful situations.

32. Continued S.N.A.P.
Students can get a S.N.A.P. form from a teacher’s room or wherever there is one available.
S.N.A.P. forms are also available online on the Counseling webpage.

33. Students Needing Assistance Pronto
Name (optional): ___________________________________________
Today’s date and time: ______________________________________
Your concern (please put where it is happening or will be happening and the time of the day.)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

37. Re-Think App

39. Originally, one of only 170 campuses nationwide
& 2017-future
Originally, one of only 170 campuses nationwide
One of the first 2 campuses in NISD

41. Monitor the Folks MS website for updates.
So What’s Next?
Counselor Visits – DONE!
Course Card Completion – In Progress or DONE!
Transition Visit (May 24)
Summer Letter w/ Important Dates (late July)
Saturday Transition Event (August 19 tentative)
6th Grade Meet Your Teacher Event
(the week prior to school)
Monitor the Folks MS website for updates.
* Important information will be ed, mailed, or through a School Messenger call-out.

42. Questions? Contact me: shawn.mckenzie@nisd.net (210) 398-1605