6. Middle School: What’s the big deal?
What do you think will be different about middle school?
7. Example
Schedule
> Classes are either
50 or 90 minutes
> You will have 6
different teachers
each day, and could
have 8-10 teachers
a semester.
> You will walk from
class to class
8.
9.
10. NEW RESPONSIBILITIES
In middle school you will have new responsibilities
including...
● Tracking your homework in each class
● Doing more tests and projects
● Managing your time
● Communicating important information to your family
● Taking ownership for your actions
12. Technology
You may start using a
computer more often
during school.
No cell phones are
allowed during school.
13. BEHAVIOR SYSTEMS
● Why we have them?
○ Ensures the physical and emotional safety of
students
○ Creates a focused learning environment
● What is the system at your school?
○ Rewards
○ Consequences (demerits)
★ Will look different at each school
14. UNIFORMS
Here are some basic guidelines about uniforms
(though specifics vary by school):
● School uniform shirt
● Plain pants (jeans, khakis, black)
● School sweatshirts or hoodies
● Some schools require you to wear a belt or all black
shoes.
22. STUDENT ACTIVITIES
● School-sponsored sports
● College visits
● 8th Grade Trip to the mountains, California
● After school programs
● Social activities
○ Field days, dances, color games, and
more!
28. New Friends!
● Invite people to sit with you or join in activities
● Smile :)
● Compliment things you like about others
● Share your hobbies (or pick up new ones!)
● Explore new places or go to events together
29.
30.
31.
32. What You Can Do Now:
● Get a tour of your new middle school, ask your parents to
take you to events for incoming students.
● Practice making friends and being nice to everyone
● Use the summer to get organized and build routines that will
help you be successful
33. Tips for Parents:
● Get a tour of the school with your child.
● Know how your school communicates about important
information and events.
● Get your student involved in activities and summer camps -
making friends is one of the most important parts!
● Explore how your student can take on more responsibilities
and organization of them or the family.
34. Climb on!
Middle school is the next step in your
education and we trust that you are
ready to succeed!
Editor's Notes
Ask students to introduce themselves and share where they are going to middle school.
Then ask, “have you been to visit your middle school yet?”
Here is a photo of Lake Middle school, which hosts STRIVE- Lake and Lake Middle School. Middle schools tend to be bigger buildings, have more students, and more teachers. Don’t worry though, you will quickly learn your way around.
Here are some photos of middle school, having fun at a pep rally and outside at recess. What is your middle school mascot?
Some key differences are:
-Different teachers for every class
-Changing classrooms
-More tests, projects, and rigorous academics
-New friends
Here is an example schedule from STRIVE middle school, notice how some classes are 90 minutes and you have lots of different teachers.
This is the cafeteria
Lunch time is when you get a chance to hang out with friends. Make sure you create an inclusive eating environment by inviting people to sit with you.
Discuss how everyone has a responsibility to not engage in bullying, to stand up for friends and their peers, and be kind to everyone.
Acknowledge that there is a reputation of fighting and bullying in middle school -- and they need to be the ones to stop this.
Stand up for yourself, stand up for others.
Technology policies will vary by school. Often 6th graders will get to use a computer at school but not bring it home. Cell phones need to remain unseen -either in lockers or kept off in backpacks.
Each school has a different behavior system to keep you in a safe, positive learning environment. While schools try to focus on encouraging good behavior, they may use a combination of demerits, detention, or loss of privileges as consequences for certain behavior. This is an example of STRIVE’s weekly paycheck where students can ‘buy’ certain things like free dress if they have certain points.
Family will be called to bring a missing uniform item or the student will need to borrow the item from the school for that day only and return it before leaving.
Getting a locker is an exciting new part of middle school. You will use a combination lock to open it. Devise a way to have your combination accessible to only you in case you forget it, but we promise using a lock will become easy after a week or so of practice. This is something you could even do over the summer if you are worried.
Here is an example of lockers like the ones you will get.
Remind students that after a few days they will know their way around. Teachers will help them in the beginning get to where they need to go and they will be walking from class to class with lots of other students.
This is the auditorium at Lake where a presentation is being given by an international musician. He is demonstrating instruments from all over the world.
What are some responsibilities you currently have? [Taking care of pets, siblings; doing your homework & bringing it to school; being organized, etc.]
How do you handle these responsibilities? What new responsibilities are you taking on?
Lake Middle school’s 3D printer
Talk about Mi Casa’s After school program
Distribute MiCasa resource center registration & inform families MiCasa is a great option for early dismissal on Fridays at 1:30pm. Let families know that MiCasa will be here in the cafeteria after this presentation to turn in forms and answer questions!
7th and 8th grade distribute athletic paperwork & collect completed!
Here is a photo of boys soccer practice
Here is a photo of girls basketball practice
Have a discussion around making friends. Remind students that everyone likes being welcomed, smiled at, and included.
Have a conversation about bullying or the ‘haters’. Ask why people might act this way and how the best thing you can do is be above meanness. Try to get to know these people or figure out what they are afraid of that is making them act this way.
Tennis club at Mi Casa’s after school program.
What you can
If parents are coming to pick up their students, be sure to share these tips with them!