2. Back to School Prayer Dear God, Thank you for the gift of children. Please watch over our children as they go back to school this year. Keep them safe every day. Help them to remember that you are right there with them in the halls and classrooms. Help them soak up knowledge. Help them treat others with kindness and respect, and to guard their hearts with the armor of Your Word. Give them joy and peace as they put their trust in you. Amen

3. Why did we start with a prayer?

4. Spiritual Development As a teacher at OLPH, I am concerned about teaching the whole child: spiritually, academically, physically and emotionally. The teachers instruct the students in faith formation using the religion standards. In addition to our regular prayers-morning, lunch, and closing prayers, we pray at the beginning of every block period. The 7 th grade will have a morning reflection. We will attend Mass on Wednesdays and 1 st Fridays. Confessions are available 3 times a year. The seventh grade attends adoration on Fridays. We participate in the character traits of the Ambassadors for Christ program.

5. My name is Mrs. Anne Marie Rudzinski. I am the 7 th grade homeroom teacher. I teach 6 th, 7 th, and 8 th grade math and science. I have been teaching for 37 years. I have a Masters Degree in education. Every year I continue my education in order to be the best version of myself to assist the students in their academic career. I teach to the school-wide learning expectations, California standards and Archdiocese benchmarks. I also coach Academic Decathlon.

6. What are SLEs?

7. School-wide Learning Expectations The SLEs or School-wide Learning Expectations are what students at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School are expected to achieve during their educational careers here at our school. The students are developing a deeper understanding of the SLEs.

8. 6 th grade math is 11:30-12:15. 6 th grade science is 1:00-1:45. 7 th grade math is 8:15-9:00 except on Mass days-9:00-9:45. 7 th grade science is 1:45-2:30. 8 th grade math is 10:00-10:45. 8 th grade science is 10:45-11:30.

9. Common Core Standards The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy.

10. Math Curriculum and Standards In order to meet the math common core standards and provide a rigorous math program, we use the Advanced Pathway of Big Ideas Math Series. The Advanced Pathway allows students to complete the Common Core State Standards for grades 6, 7, and 8 in two years. It prepares students for High School Algebra 1 in their 3rd year of middle school mathematics. Students who complete the Advanced Pathway will have the opportunity for conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and application through the use of focus, coherence, and rigor. This pathway opens doors to abstract thought, reasoning, and inquiry that will serve students well not only in mathematics, but across all curricula throughout their academic careers.

11. Seventh Grade Math Syllabus Big Ideas Math Advanced 2 Equations Transformations Angles and Triangles Graphing and Writing Linear Equations Systems of Linear Equations Functions Real Numbers and the Pythagorean Theorem Volume and Similar Solids Data Analysis and Displays Exponents and Scientific Notation Inequalities Constructions and Scale Drawings Circles and Area Surface Area and Volume Probability and Statistics

12. What standards to we cover in life science?

13. Seventh Grade Science Standards Science: Life Science 7.1 Cell Biology 7.2 Genetics 7.3 Evolution 7.4 Earth and Life History 7.5 Structure and Function in Living Systems 7.6 Physical Principles in Living Systems 7.7 Investigation and Experimentation I am also incorporating the new Common Core Science standards for middle school.

14. Science Project This year the middle school students will conduct a Science Fair in January. A timeline for the project will be handed out in the next few weeks.

15. OLPH Middle School participates in Rosetta Stone. The students will be able to choose one of several different languages. This program will be graded with Outstanding, Good, Satisfactory, and Needs Improvement depending on their level of participation.

16. Why did I choose the particular picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Help on the first slide?

17. Art Curriculum We will again participate in the Art in Action curriculum. 7 th grade studies Renaissance artists. This program will be augmented with my own art curriculum.

18. Music Program Mr. Scott Blackwood will be teaching the music program. 7 th grade music classes will be on Mondays. Band and choir will be in the afternoons on Monday and Friday.

19. Each teacher has several web pages on the website. All important middle school information is on these web pages including our schedule and procedures.

20. Why do we assign homework?

21. Homework Policy Homework is important because it is a valuable aid in helping students make the most of their experience in school. Homework reinforces what has been taught in class, prepares students for upcoming lessons, and helps students develop self-discipline, responsibility and organizational skills. Success in learning like anything else requires practice for mastery.

22. Grades Students will be graded on the following types of assignments: homework quizzes tests projects science journals Notes Mastery drills other assignments I do not accept late work after the Friday of the week the assignment was due. Each day the assignment is late that week, I will deduct 10%. After Friday, that assignment is considered missing without redemption. Grades will be posted on Gradelink at minimum on the 1st and 15th of each month.

23. Absence and Tardiness It is very important that your student attends school in order to receive instruction. Tardiness affects not only your student as they miss valuable instruction but it also affects the other students in the class as the teacher has to stop instruction to catch the late student up. Students who are late will have to do the work they missed for homework with a note that needs to be signed by parents. More than 10 days of tardiness in one semester will result in the student not receiving academic and athletic awards for that semester.

24. Standardized Testing The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is now using Renaissance Learning STAR testing in Reading and Math for our standardized testing. The students will take the STAR reading and math tests four times a year.

25. Accelerated Reader Accelerated Reader is an important part of the curriculum. Accelerated Reader helps improve each student’s vocabulary and reading comprehension which in turn assists in overall academic progress. Mathletics and Sumdog Students will continue using Mathletics and Sumdog. Both programs can be done at home as well.

26. IPad We have four IPad in our classroom. Students can take AR tests as well as work on Sumdog and Mathletics. These activities will assist our students in reading and math as well as standardized testing.

27. Classroom Support Tuesday mornings-7:00-7:35 a.m. Two lunch periods during the week. By appointment.

28. Parking If you are dropping your student in the car line in the morning, please drop them in the pick up area. Please do not have your child’s backpack in the trunk. If you are picking up in the car line, continue to come in at Way man. The students will be waiting near the grotto. Please load in the loading zone. If you are parking to pick up, please come in on Arcadia and park on the east side of campus. Please walk to the pick up line, tell the teacher you are here to pick up your student. Walk your student to your car.

29. Some Important Notes Birthdays- pencils, bookmarks, or donations to our class wish lists-NO FOOD ITEMS-due to allergies No fast-food lunch delivery Supplies-make sure your student brings all supplies throughout the school year Check in at the office whenever you are on campus If you assist the students, you must be Virtus trained.

30. What is the best way to communicate with me?

31. Communication The best way to reach me is by email: 7thgrolph@gmail.com 7thgrolph@gmail.com Please email me any time. I will respond usually after school the same day.

32. Room Moms and 7 th Grade Parents Seventh grade participates in all school special events as well as two activities that are unique to seventh grade. School: Christmas and Valentine parties Auction-Dinner Dance basket Field trip Seventh Grade: 8 th grade banquet 7 th /8 th grade social Room moms need to be able to work with special event PTO committees and delegate work to others who volunteer to assist the room moms. Room moms must be able to attend PTO meetings in order to receive volunteer hours. If you volunteer at the school including field trips, you must be Virtus trained and finger-printed.

33. Thank you for sharing your student with us this year. Together let us help him/her be the best version of themselves- spiritually, academically, physically, and emotionally. God bless you.