1. Transition to Middle School
Parent/Guardian Information Night – Thursday January 10, 2019

2. School Counselors in the Middle School

3. Developmental Changes in Middle School
Lots of physical changes
Brain restructuring
Puberty
Young adolescents need a lot of SLEEP!
In early adolescence, the young adolescent body undergoes more developmental change than at any other time except from birth to two years old. Young adolescents' growth is accelerated and uneven (California State Department of Education, 1987; Kellough & Kellough, 2008; Manning, 2002; Scales, 1991, 2010; Wiles, Bondi, & Wiles, 2006.

4. Social and Friendship Changes
Middle school a time in developing sense of self
Social-emotional maturity is slow
Strong need to belong to a group
Peer approval is much more important than family approval
Spotlight Effect
Set aside time to talk with your child!
In early adolescence, social-emotional maturity often lags behind physical and intellectual development. Young adolescents have a strong need to belong to a group—with peer approval becoming more important and adult approval decreasing in importance (Scales, 2010).

5. School and Class Structure
English
Math
Science
Social Studies
Elective – PE/Health
Elective – World Language
Elective – art/music/more
1 class  7 classes
1 primary teacher  7 teachers
Communication with teachers is best by

6. Academic Grading Many teachers use Letter Grades
Each teacher has their own grading policy
No set parent-teacher conferences
Meet with teachers individually if needed
Families may log into Synergy to check their student’s grades

7. Academic Supports in Middle School
Communication with teachers and staff such as school counselor is key!
Tutorial is open to all students after school!
If at any point you have concerns, get in touch with your school counselor.
Academic Supports in Middle School

8. Technology
All middle school students will receive their own laptop and their own address
Most classes use OneNote
Be prepared to talk with your children about the use of laptop/technology at home

9. Sports and Clubs
All schools have student clubs such as: writing club, environmental club, etc.
All students can create their own club!
Sports is available in partnership with Jubilee REACH after school
Different seasons = different sports
All activities happen AFTER tutorial

10. Transportation
Bus transportation is provided by the school district if you live more than 1 mile away from the school and if you are attending your HOME school
Bus transportation may not be available if you are attending an open enrolled school or choice school such as Big Picture or International
If this is a barrier, please ask!

11. Supporting Students in Middle School
Sleep: help your student carve out enough time to sleep by setting consistent bedtimes, creating a no screen rule after a certain time, etc.
Talk: communicate with your student about your day and ask about their day, strive to listen first
Connect: connect with teachers, school counselor, other staff if you have any concerns or questions

12. Volunteering in Middle Schools
Volunteering in middle schools look differently than in elementary schools
Join your school’s PTSA
Volunteering in middle schools look differently than in elementary schools – less classroom help, more office support, and other needs.

13. Resources in Middle Schools
Family Support Specialists
Access to Translators
Community Resources
There are many resources available during the holidays and before school. Please get connected.

14. Before/After School Care Programs
Please note: our middle schools do not offer before/after school care
Boys and Girls Club: picks up from Tillicum, Tyee, International School
BSD Bus: drops off from Chinook, Odle, Highland
Cost: Free
For more information/questions, Seth at
Students are able to come as early as 7:00am or 7:30am – depending on the middle school. We do not provide before/after school care.

15. Looking Ahead: Summer Program Options
Operation Ideation
For students entering Grades 6-8 – focusing on design and thinking
Accelerated Math Summer Program
Please note that this program does not guarantee that you skip a math level!

16. Looking Ahead: High School and College
Core Classes
English
Social Studies
Math
Science
World Language
2-years of the same language
AP vs. IB
College level courses
Advanced Placement = AP
International Baccalaureate = IB
IB only available at Interlake High School

17. Looking Ahead: College Bound Scholarship
The College Bound Scholarship is designed to inspire and encourage Washington middle school students from low-income families to prepare for and pursue postsecondary education. The early commitment of state funding for tuition is intended to alleviate the financial barriers preventing students from considering college as a possibility. 
Students may only apply in 7th or 8th grade!

18. Bellevue School District Middle Schools
Big Picture School (choice school: 6th-12th)
Chinook Middle School
Highland Middle School
International School (choice school: 6th-12th)
Odle Middle School
Tillicum Middle School
Tyee Middle School

19. Types of Middle Schools: Home, Choice, Open
Choice Schools
Open Enrollment Schools
Choice Schools offer unique learning environments to any student in the Bellevue School District. Enrollment is done through an online application process. Online Applications will be accepted until Friday, February 1, 2019 at 4:30pm.
Big Picture School
International School
Open Enrollment is for current Bellevue School District residents who wish to attend a school other than their assigned neighborhood school. Open Enrollment applications for the school year will be accepted until Friday, January 18, 2019 at 4:30 p.m.
Highland Middle School
Tillicum Middle School

20. Big Picture School
Choice School Grades 6-12 – Applications for lottery accepted through Feb. 1st ​
Overview – Why apply to Big Picture?:​
Project Based Learning​
Advisory and PMU​
Internships (HS students)​
Academic grading is Standards based (1, 2, 3, 4)​
Parent/Teacher conferences are SLC’s Student Led Conferences​
2-4x per academic calendar year for every student​
Sports:​
MS: Available through Jubilee Reach Program​
HS: Students can participate in sports through either going to Sammamish HS OR students may go to their neighborhood HS

21. International School Choice School – Apply by February 1st!
7-year Course Study – required seven-year study of core subjects: International Studies, World Language (French), Math, Science, Humanities, Fine Arts, and PE
Focus Week – Each student participates in one week of focused study outside formal classroom structure, e.g. environmental study in the Cascades, cooking classes, furniture building, disaster preparedness, film making, designing inventions, trips to Washington, D.C. and abroad, etc.
Community – Each student participates in “community,” held on Wednesdays, as a time to get to know one another through common interests.
6th Grade Retreat – At the beginning of the school year, all 6th grade students spend an entire day together, getting to know one another and the school, playing games and team building activities.

22. Odle Middle School
Odle Middle School home of the Vikings we currently have students in 6-8th grade. Students participate in our Honors(traditional) program or Advanced Learning. ​
Advanced Learning (Gifted) ​
Advanced Learning Services provide identified students with academic services at an advanced level and accelerated pace due to their ability to comprehend and process information. Services provide instruction in the core content areas of language arts, social studies, science and math. Instruction is designed to meet students’ cognitive and academic needs at the appropriate level.​

23. Odle Middle School Good to know information ​
WEB (Where Everybody Belongs) is an orientation and transition program.  You will be invited to a special orientation day in August to meet other 6th graders, tour the school, connect with 8th grade leaders and just plain have fun! More information about this event will be mailed home in the Spring!​
My child is beyond the beginner level in a certain elective.  Can we sign up for the next level instead?​
You will need to contact the teacher of the course directly and gain his/her permission to bypass the pre-requisite course.  In some cases your child may need to take a placement exam or audition.  This would be arranged with the teacher.  ​
How can my child accelerate in math?​
Students who are highly motivated and wish to accelerate in math may do so by taking the next course in the sequence during the summer.  For accelerating past IMT 1 and IMT 2, the only acceptable summer course option is through BSD’s summer school program.  

24. Registration/Admissions Process
Home School
Middle school counselors will be going to feeder elementary schools to help 5th grade students register
Open Enrollment
Highland Middle School
Tillicum Middle School
Application is available online and due on January 18th!
Choice Schools
Big Picture School
International School
Application is available online and due on February 1st!

25. Questions? Open Enrollment Deadline is Friday January 18th at 4:30pm
/student-placement/open- enrollment/
Choice Schools Application Deadline is Friday February 1st at 4:30pm
ply-to-choice-schools-and- programs/