This orientation document provides information about the 6th grade orientation for Renaissance Academy, including what makes the school unique, a typical school day schedule, advisory details, grading policies, communication methods, learner-led conferences, uniform policy, required materials, and a summer learning assignment. The school emphasizes strong relationships, habits of mind and character, depth over breadth of learning, and preparing students for college.

1. 6TH
GRADE ORIENTATION
MAY 21, 2013
Renaissance Academy
of Arts, Sciences and Social Justice

2. What Makes Us Unique?
School of Choice
 Everyone here chooses to be here
Strong Relationships
 Cohorts, Advisory System
Habits of Mind
 Importance, Cause & Effect, Evidence
Habits of Character
 Passion, Integrity, Kindness, Effort
Depth over Breadth
 Essential Standards/ “I can..”
statements

3. Typical School Day
Schedule:
Academic Class1 (80 minutes)
Brunch (15 minutes)
Academic Class2 (80 minutes)
Academic Class3 (80 minutes)
Lunch (35 minutes)
Advisory (40 minutes)
Physical Ed. (50 minutes)

4. Advisory
Academic Goal Setting & Monitoring
Exhibition preparation
Learner Led Conference preparation
School Culture/Habits of Mind/ Habits of
Character
Social Justice lessons
Homework (asks questions/receives help)

5. Grades
Gradesareweighted so different
assessmentshavedifferent impactson
study habits. Asyour child progresses,
theweightschangeto maketestsa
bigger portion of thefinal grade.
6th
7th
8th
Homework 20% 25% 30%
In-Class Participation 30% 25% 20%
Notebook/Class Work 30% 25% 20%
Tests/Benchmark 20% 25% 30%

6. HAC-Home Access Center
Onlineprogram to check student’sgrades
Immediately updated when teacher addsgrades
www.arusd.org/renaissancea
click on HAC on thispage

7. College Focus Based Learning
 Notebooks: each class; whole year
(five notebooks (8 ½ X 11” NOT 8 X10”)
 Weekly Homework: Assigned and Collected on
Monday
 Midterms and Finals – every 6 weeks;
three 12 week trimesters
 Academic Exhibition – two per year
 College/University Visits

8. Communication
Communication between:
 teachers and students
 students and parents
 teachers and parents
are absolutely crucial for your child to be
successful.

9. Learner-Led Conferences
Student prepares a 20-30 minute talk with cohort
teacher and parent(s)
• Student Led
• Discuss their goals
• Reasons for their grades
• Show student work
• Develop action plan
•Mid October (for all students)
•End of January (for all students)
•April Conferences
• students who currently have a grade of a “C” or below

10. School Uniform Policy
Shirt: solid black, green, grey, or white collar shirt
or Renaissance logo shirt
Sweatshirt: solid black, solid white, solid grey, or
Renaissance
Pants/Shorts: khaki or black (no jeans)
No blue or red fabric, details, stitching, or designs
allowed on any clothing, footwear or accessories

11. Materials Needed
 Spiral Notebooks: 150 pages
 - 8 ½ x 11”
 -Not 8 x 10”
 - 1 per class/per trimester (about 10-15 for the whole year)
 1 composition notebook
 Pocket folders
 pencils, pens, crayons, colored pencils, markers, highlighters
 glue sticks—lots
 Ruler
 Scissors
 Mini-stapler
 Handheld pencil sharpener w/shaving container
 Note cards (4x6)
 2 exhibition boards, 36 x 48
 $10 for science materials
 $10 for art materials
 USB memory drive, try to get one without sync software. Also known as: flash drives,
jump drives, memory sticks
 San Jose Public Library Card (know your pin and pay your fines)
The following items are not allowed at school and will be taken away:
 Liquid White Out, Sharpies, Red and blue backpacks/clothing/accessories

12. Summer Learning Assignment
Designed to keep students reading, writing, and
thinking critically over their vacation so they don’t
have to spend the first part of school reviewing and
relearning content from this school year.
Overview of assignment
Access on the Renaissance website
Due on first day of summer orientation; August 12th