1. Track 1-6th Grade Meet the Teacher
Welcome!

2. Attendance Excused absences are defined in WCPSS Handbook
Include illness & injury; death in the family
Participation in a valid educational opportunity, such as travel, with prior written approval, as documented on the “Request for Excused Absence for Educational Reasons” form
It is extremely important for parents and students to closely monitor and document all school absences. Excessive absences will have serious academic consequences and may result in grade-level retention.

3. Attendance
Following an absence from school, students must present a note from a parent/guardian to their homeroom teacher. The note must include:
Student’s first and last name
Date(s) absent
Reason for absences
Parent/Guardian signature
Home, work, and/or cell phone numbers of parent/guardian
Sample 12/12/11
Please excuse Jane E. Doe from school on Monday, Dec 10 and Tuesday, Dec 11. She was out with the flu.
Thank you, (H)
John Doe (cell)

4. Tardy Policy
Teachers record students’ tardies to each class. Students who are tardy to school check in at the main office to receive a pass.
Tardies to school are documented
Students who report to school after 8:15 am are considered tardy. Students who miss more than half of the instructional day or period will be counted absent for that day or period.

5. Tardy to Class Consequences
1st Tardy
Warning
2nd Tardy
Teacher Consequence
3rd Tardy
Teacher Consequence (Parent Phone Call)
4th Tardy
Administrative Consequence

6. The Durant Road Middle School Student shows
S - Self Control
P - Pride
L - Leadership
A - Attitude
S - Safety
H – Honesty

7. Wireless Communication Devices
Phones and other electronic devices may ONLY be used during class with a teacher’s permission (BYOD).
If staff member asks for your phone/electronic device and student refuses to give it up, the student will receive consequences from administration
Confiscated phones must be picked up by parent in the front office unless otherwise authorized
Students are responsible for their electronic devices (have them on you at all times or locked in locker)

8. Discipline Code of Student Conduct
All students shall comply with the Code of Student Conduct of the Wake County Public School System, state and federal laws, school board policies, and local school rules and regulations governing student behavior and conduct.
This year WCPSS has separated behaviors into levels (Level I - Level V)

9. Harassment
The Board specifically prohibits bullying and harassment under any circumstances. Any offensive verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive to interfere with a student’s ability to participate or benefit from an educational program or activity. Prohibited conduct may include, but is not limited to, abusive jokes, insults, slurs, name-calling, threats, bullying, intimidation, or cyber-bullying (using the internet, or text messaging to bully.)

10. DRMS-Dress code Highlights
Dresses/skirts/shorts must be no shorter than 6 inches above the knee.
Should never see a child’s undergarments (no sagging pants, bra straps, spaghetti straps)
Boys cannot wear any type of tank top or pants cannot sag.
Girls must have straps at least two fingers wide.

11. Math Mrs. Earnest Compacted 6+/7+
This class teaches 6th, 7th and 8th grade math in one year
Grades: Tests 50%, Quizzes 30%, Class-work 20% (includes in class assignments, homework, and warm ups)
Flipped classroom

12. Language Arts Common Core & Language Arts
Emphasis on vocabulary, writing, close reading/annotating
Students directly taught to “read to learn”
Delve deeper into text, analyze text structure and content
Students will “grapple” with text to gain greater understanding

13. Language Arts Grades Weighted grade
Major: Tests, Papers, Projects, Chapter Book Reading Activity 50%
Minor: Quizzes, Vocab Quizzes, AOW, Study Island, Classwork, Group Work, Partner Work 40 %
Homework: Journals, Vocab HW, Reading Log 10%

14. Math
Ms. Vaughn
Core vs. Core +: Core + will have some 7th grade curriculum intertwined within different units of the Core Curriculum. Assignments/tests can be different.
Grades: Tests 50%, Quizzes 30%, Class-work 20%
Homework is recorded, but DOES NOT count toward the overall average. You will see the following A, C or F.

15. Social Studies 1st Quarter Geographic Tools
1st Quarter
Geographic Tools
The Ancient Fertile Crescent Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt
2nd Quarter
Ancient Civilization- India (Hinduism and Buddhism)
Ancient China
Ancient Japan and Korea
3rd Quarter
Ancient Greece
Ancient Rome
The Byzantine Empire and Eastern Europe
The Middle East and Islamic Expansion
World Religions
Pre-Colonial Africa
4th Quarter
Ancient Civilizations –South America
The European Middle Ages
The Renaissance and Reformation

16. Social Studies FOCUS: Students will be: A Reading B. Writing
Grading:
Grades will include many types of assignments and will be calculated according to the following percentages.
Major Assessments 50%
Tests
Projects
Minor Assessments %
Quizzes
Classwork
Articles of the Week
FOCUS:
Students will be:
A Reading
B. Writing
C. Speaking
D. Listening

17. Food Webs, Chains, and Populations (Ecology)
The Units of Study for the year are:
Geosphere (Geology)
Plants (Biology)
Food Webs, Chains, and Populations (Ecology)
Atoms and Matter (Chemistry)
Waves (Physics)
Space (Astronomy
Please encourage your child to communicate with me directly. If you or your child needs to contact me:

18. Science: Mr. Brancaccio (Mr. B)
There are two categories in science:
Major 55% - this category includes tests only
Minor 45% - this category includes class work, quizzes, labs, and projects
Make sure to check the website every week for information on: Tests, Quizzes, Labs, and Homework.

19. Newsletter Can be found at the Durant Road Middle School Website
Click –Team websites
Click- Track 1-6th Grade
Posts will be updated and will be sent out as a newsletter every Friday. Please Ms. Price if you have not received the newsletter.

20. Website Go to DRMS Homepage 1. Click on Team Websites
2. Click on Track 1
Weekly Posts will be made.
Teachers will update their core page each week.

21. Student-Led Conferences August 9, 2017
Interims will be handed out that day and conferences will be after school 3:30-5:00 p.m. on team in our classrooms. Meetings will end promptly at 5:00.
Available time slots:
3:30-4:00
4:00-4:30
4:30-5:00
* Please send an to your child’s homeroom teacher to sign up.
You and your child should attend. Students will lead the conferences while teachers float throughout each classroom.
If you cannot attend, the student can have the conference at home.

22. Volunteers
Birthday Bash
Field Trips

23. Powerschool Registration
To have access to your child’s grades online you must fill out the registration form and show identification.
If you filled out the Powerschool registration form, please see one of the staff members to show your identification.

24. Thank you for coming!
your child’s teacher with additional questions.