The document provides information for a sixth grade parent orientation at Maple School. It includes an agenda for the evening which covers topics like Maple's programs, student support services, activities and important dates. The document then goes into further detail about Maple's middle school philosophy, core classes, electives, extracurricular activities, athletics, student recognition programs and ways for parents to get involved. It concludes by outlining expectations and logistics for the first day of school in August.

1. 1
Welcome to Maple School
Home of the Mustangs!
Sixth Grade Parent Orientation
April 3, 2014
6:30 pm
Kate Davidson, Betsy Johnson,
Sam Kurtz, Junyuan Li,
Chris Brown, and Nate Carter

2. Tonight’s Agenda
 Welcome to Maple
 Maple Program
 Student Support Services
 Student Activities
 The Important Stuff
 Questions
2

3. Expectations for Middle School
Students
 6th Grade: adapting to middle school
 7th Grade: focus on self-advocacy
 8th Grade: prep for high school
3

4. Maple Foundations
 Developmental Tasks of Adolescence
 Aspects of Middle School Philosophy
 Team Format
 Block Schedule - “The Maple Way”
 Opportunities
4

5. Middle School Philosophy
 Cognitive (thinking skills) + Affective (social/emotional
skills) = Balance for Students
 Focus on “where kids are at”
 High academic standards
5

6. Core Block Subject Areas
 English Language Arts
 Mathematics
 Social Studies
 Science
 80 minute classes
6

7. Non-blocked Classes
 Allied Arts
 World Language
 Physical
Education/Wellness
 40 minute classes
7

8. World Languages
 French
 Mandarin Chinese
 Spanish
Which one should my
child study?
8

9. 9

10. Sixth grade has one team
of teachers
 2 Language Arts
 2 Mathematics
 1 Science
 1 Social Studies
 1 Special Education
10

11. Sample Sixth Grade Schedule
11
8:30 - 9:54 Language Arts
9:58 - 11:18 Math
11:21 - 12:00 Lunch/Recess
12:03 - 12:42 PE/Wellness
12:45 - 2:06 Social Studies/ Science
2:09 - 2:48 French
2:51 - 3:30 Art

13. Sixth grade teachers expect…
 …you to help your child to be organized.
 …students to arrive to school on time.
 …lockers organized the “Maple Way”.
 …study skill tips used.
 …assignment notebooks to be used.
 …homework completed and turned in on time.
 …Web pages to be used for homework.
 …you to ask to see your child’s work.
 …you to view your child’s progress via the Parent Portal.
 …communication between home and school.
13

14. Role of Student Support Services
 Student Support Service Team
(Psychologists, Speech/Language
Pathologist, Nurse, Teachers, Assistant Principal, and
Principal)
 Work with ALL students
 Attend grade level/department team meetings
 Work with students individually or in group
 Service may be short or long term (RtI services)
 Crisis intervention, as needed
 Work with parents re: home issues
14

15. Peer Partners are partners!
 Assist with monthly sixth
grade advisory activities
 Serve as tutors and
mentors
 Co-lead “newcomers”
groups
15

16. Advisory is. . .
 An all-school class
 Small groups of students
 Meets three times a week for 20 minutes
 Activities are planned around the themes of the six pillars of
“CharacterCounts!, Second Step, and Rush Executive
Functioning Curriculum
 Students develop communication and discussion skills
 Students develop personal goals
16

17. Year-long Clubs/Activities
 Intramurals
 Yearbook Club
 Student Council
 Debate Club
 Digital
Cinematography
Club
 Art Club
 Computers
 Science Club
 International Club
 Musical
17

18. Year-long Music Programs
 Chorus
 Orchestra
 Band
18

19. Intramural Program
 Sept-Oct-Nov
 Touch Football
 Kickball
 Dodgeball
 December-March
 Hockey
 Steal the Bacon
 Dodgeball
 Kickball
19
 April-May
 Softball
 Dodgeball
 Kickball

20. Interscholastic Athletics
 Fall
 Cross country 6-8
 Volleyball Girls 6-8
 Soccer 7-8
 Winter
 Wrestling 4-8
 Basketball 6,7,8
 Poms 6-8
 Volleyball Boys 6-8
(Feb-March)
 Spring
 Softball Girls 6-8
 Track 6-8
20
A current physical exam is
required for participation
in all athletics.

21. Interscholastic Activities
 Math Team
 Scholastic Bowl Team
 Science Competition Team
21
New!

22. Get Involved, Be Involved
 Read the calendar on the Maple website!
22

23. Student Recognition
 Mustang Award
 Honor Roll
 PE Student of the month
 Allied Arts Student of the
quarter
 Athletic Awards
 World Language Student of
the quarter
 Team Award
 Greatest Growth
 Scholastic Award
 Presidential Excellence
 American Legion
 Chorus, Band, Orchestra,
Musical
 Caring Tree Awards
23

24. The Important Stuff
 Summer Packet Pick-up-
August 13th @ Maple
 Advisor’s name, room number
 Other important information
 Summer Orientation/School Store-
August 18th @ Maple
 Locks (PE and hallway = same combination), locker
assignments
 Specific school supplies, band sweaters, PE uniforms,
Sodexo deposits and much more
 Most supplies can be pre-ordered through PTO
 District Summer School Program
24

25. Home School Communication
http://www.district30.org/
 Maple Marquee
 Curriculum Night
 Interim Reports
 Report Cards
 Parent Teacher
Conference
 Maple Website
 Telephones in
classroom
 E-mail
 Teacher Pages
 Meet with teachers
 Parent Portal
25

26. Parent Participation at Maple
 Join PTO committee, executive board
 Volunteer for Sodexo lunch, special lunch
 Lew Blond Run
 Operation Snowflake
 Musical Committee
 Career Day
 Graduation Committee
 Sixth Grade Dance Class
26

27. The First Day of School- August 25
 Bring your backpack to take all your books home to be
covered.
 Buses run routes
 Band practice and performance
 Report to Advisory
 Sodexo lunch program available
 Students go to all classes
 Opening School Ceremony-Beginning of the day
27

28. The First Day Cont…
 Bring school supplies
 Bring your PE uniform to class
 Athletic clinics held
 Activity Bus runs
28

29. End of the first day. . .
 Kids are tired
 Teachers are tired
 Parents are tired
 Everybody is tired
29

30. 30
Thank you for being here tonight.
See you in August!!