This document provides an overview of Francis Howell Middle School for parents of incoming 6th grade students. It includes information about administrators, counselors, teachers, class schedules, electives, academic expectations, communication methods, parent involvement opportunities, discipline data, and celebrations. The school aims to promote critical thinking, academic achievement, positive character through its mission and vision.

1. Welcome to your…
5th Grade Parent Preview
Rooted In Character: Cultivating
Relationships
May 6, 2015
7:00pm

2. Welcome…
Taking a closer look at Francis Howell Middle School…

3. Who goes to Howell Middle?
Daniel Boone
John Weldon
Independence
Warren
You will have a 6th grade class of 284 students.
We are the Junior Vikings and our school colors are Blue & Gold

4. Mission and Vision
Mission
Promote critical thinking
Improve academic achievement
Expect positive character
Vision
Francis Howell Middle School will be a school where excellence is
the expectation and character development will be engrained in
all we do.

5. Our Team
Administrators
Dr. Lee, Assistant Principal (6th Grade)
Mrs. James, Assistant Principal (7th Grade)
Dr. Huff, Principal (8th Grade)
Counselors
Ms. Weiss – 6th Grade
Mrs. Lester – 7th Grade
Ms. Nieder– 8th Grade

6. The most dangerous words…

7. Our Four Core Ethical Values
Respect Responsibility Honesty Compassion
Originally adopted: Fall 2003 Re-affirmed: Spring 2014

8. • This is a multi-grade level class.
• Meets during the first 22 minutes
of the school day.
• Focus: Character Education,
Relationship building, Service-
Learning, and Team-building
• CCC requests are accepted.

9. CCC Families create sense of belonging
• To build community and a sense of belonging. We have
developed small “families” of approximately 4-6 Character
Connection Classes.
• These families will host a minimum of 8 activities this year.
• These families will help make FHMS
feel more like a family.

10. 6th Grade Teachers
Mrs. Bernaix – English Language Arts
Ms. Needham – English Language Arts
Mrs. Flick – Math
Mrs. Walch – Math
Mrs. Sieve – Earth Science
Mrs. Zuber – Earth Science
Mrs. Coveny Geography
Mrs. Royse - Geography
Mrs. Hiemenz – Special Education
Mrs. Sellers – Special Education

11. Electives
Mr. Casler - Physical Education
Mrs. McConnell - Physical Education
Ms. Durham - Art
Mrs. Bear - World Cultures
Mrs. Grau - Speech & Drama
Mrs. Howard - Choir
Mrs. Abeln - Band
Mrs. Wittmus - SPECTRA
Mr. Lacey – Music Production
Ms. Justis/Mrs. Gano - FACS

12. Electives
Mrs. Puzzella - Reading
Mrs. McGinley - Reading
Mrs. Brzycki - Reading
Ms. Cobb – Reading
Mr. Wuertenberg - Ind Tech/Engineering by Design
Mr. R. Proctor - Ind Tech/Engineering by Design
Mrs. Moylan - Technology Information Literacy

13. Staff Members
Mrs. Brinkmann – Special Services Dept. Chair
Ms. Cobb – Hearing Impaired/Deaf Education
Mrs. Jones – Speech Language Pathologist
Mrs. Goeke – Building Secretary
Mrs. Fontanini – Main Office Secretary
Mrs. Simmons – Main Office Secretary
Mrs. Wolf – Attendance Secretary

14. School Day
Character Connection Class + 7 class periods
Four Core classes
Mathematics, English Language Arts, Earth Science, & Geography
PE & Health
Two Electives
3-4 minute passing periods
Individual locker
PE locker (with lock)

15. Electives
Elective Options
• Band (year long)
• Choir (year long)
• Spectra (year long)
• Guided Study Hall (year long)
• Resource Support Class (year long)
• Reading - READ180 or System44
(year long)
• ST Math (year long)
Elective Options
• Explo Wheel A (quarter classes)
– FACS - Drama - Piano Keyboarding -
Engineering by Design
• Explo Wheel B (quarter classes)
– Art – Technology Information
Literacy - World Cultures - Industrial
Technology

16. MAP - 2014
• District Ranking
• MATH
• 6th – 2nd 7th – 1st 8th – 3rd
• ELA
• 6th – 1st 7th – 1st 8th – 1st
• SCIENCE
8th – 4th

17. MAP: ELA - Grade Level
Year State Overall District Overall FHMS + / - Rank
2013 353.8 379.0 398.6 --- 1
2014 346.2 370.5 386.8 -11.8 1
Year State Overall District Overall FHMS + / - Rank
2013 356.5 384.2 394.7 --- 1
2014 358.7 389.5 403.0 +8.3 1
Year State Overall District Overall FHMS + / - Rank
2013 365.7 396.4 405.6 --- 1
2014 358.8 381.8 390.7 -14.9 1
6th Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade

18. MAP: Math – Grade level
Year State Overall District Overall FHMS + / - Rank
2013 359.7 388.3 396.4 --- 1
2014 357.6 386.3 390.8 -5.6 2
Year State Overall District Overall FHMS + / - Rank
2013 357.2 389.6 398.9 --- 1
2014 357.5 391.9 404.4 +5.5 1
Year State Overall District Overall FHMS + / - Rank
2013 318.4 336.5 348.2 --- 2
2014 320.3 329.0 331.0 -17.2 3
6th Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade

19. MAP: Math (Algebra/Geometry)
Year State Overall District Overall FHMS + / - Rank
2013 318.4 336.5 348.2 --- 2
2014 320.3 329.0 331.0 -17.2 3
Year State Overall District Overall FHMS + / - Rank
2013 355.1 495.7 500.0 --- 1
2014 368.7 400.3 500.0 --- 1
8th Grade Algebra
Geometry

20. Academic Expectations
• Rigor and Relevance
• Student Accountability
• Assignments
• Due Dates
• Quarterly Assessments
– Mathematics
– English Language Arts
– Science
– Social Studies
• d

21. Communication
• eNews
• Remind –
– Teacher
– Counselor
– Administrator
• Building Website
• www.fhsdfhm.sharpschool.net
• Teacher Websites
• Infinite Campus
• Twitter
– Building
– Principal
• Marquee
• Principal’s Blog
• Newsletter

22. FHMS is BYOD
We are a Bring Your Own Device school.
• Students may use devices before school,
during, lunch, and after school.
• Classroom use: This is the individual
teacher’s decision.

23. 21st Century Learning
• Blended Learning, Cooperative Learning, Flipped Classroom,
Apps in the Classroom…

24. Celebrations
• The Parent Involvement Team earned a 2014 Partnership
School Distinction from the National Network of Partnership
Schools
• Teacher of the Year – Mr. Bryan Richards
• Support Staff of The Year- Officer Ron Neupert
• Peabody Leader in Education – Mrs. Lynne Finnerty

25. Parent Participation
• Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
– Fund Raising organization (Scholastic Book Fair, Direct Fund Raising)
– Spirit Wear
– Grants
– Technology Support
• Parent Involvement Team (PIT)
– Parent education (Book Discussions, Summer Survival Series, Parenting 101
– Parent Volunteers
– Student Celebrations
• Building Improvement Group (BIG) - building leadership team
– Meets monthly
• School Improvement Plan (SIP) Team

26. Parent Teacher Organization
• Mrs. Erin Cramer – PTO Treasurer
• Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
– Fund Raising organization (Scholastic Book Fair, Direct Fund Raising)
– Spirit Wear
– Grants
– Technology Support

27. Parent Involvement Team
• Mrs. Julie Oppermann , PIT Chair
• Parent Involvement Team (PIT)
– Parent education (Book Discussions, Summer Survival Series, Parenting 101
– Parent Volunteers
– Student Celebrations

28. Student Drop-Off
• AM Drop-Off/PM Pick-Up Procedures

29. Student Pic-Up (PM)
• AM Drop-Off/PM Pick-Up Procedures

30. The Seven of FHMS
• NO
• Backs
• Bottoms
• Boxers
• Bedroom wear
• Bellies
• Bras
• Breasts
You may have seen this somewhere else; however, it was first coined by Mrs. Amy Johnston
Remember, you may only have 1 (or 2 or 3), but we have 835!
..Procedures and SchedulesDress Code 1415.pdf

31. “What We Accept We Teach”
From leading Character Education expert Dr. Hal Urban
• Life’s Greatest Lessons: 20 Things that Matter Most
• Lessons from the Classroom
• 20 Gifts of Life

32. Detention
Total Number of Students
2013-14 175
2012-13 185
2011-12 245
2010-11 343
2009-10 111
2008-09 226
2007-08 234
2006-07 440
2005-06 510
2004-05 731
2002-03 1153 Building Goal:
Less than 220
Current year: 69

33. In School Suspension
Total Number of Students
Building Goal:
Less than 52
2013-14 81
2012-13 50
2011-12 58
2010-11 53
2009-10 21
2008-09 44
2007-08 69
2006-07 70
2005-06 73
2004-05 76
2002-03 110
Current year: 22

34. Out of School Suspension
Total Number of Students
Building Goal:
Less than 40
2013-14 57
2012-13 24
2011-12 45
2010-11 54
2009-10 22
2008-09 17
2007-08 23
2006-07 40
Current year: 12

35. Comparison
2008-2013
Francis Howell Middle School had…
The Lowest Discipline
And
The Highest Attendance
Of the five
district middle schools!

36. Celebrations
May 14, 2015 7:30am
3rd Annual
Shield of Excellence
May 13, 2015 7:30am
1st Annual 4.0 Breakfast &
3 Year Perfect Attendance

37. Building Community
• 4th Annual Family Fun Run
• 7th Annual Veterans Day Celebration
• Girls on Track
• Family & Friends Band

38. So, what’s up with Wednesdays?
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday:
We follow a 3:15pm dismissal bell schedule
On Wednesdays, we dismiss early, 2:30pm .
So we have a special Wednesday Schedule.
There are 6 Wednesdays when we do not
dismiss at 2:30pm., Instead we dismiss at
3:15.
So to remain consistent, every Wednesday
is a 2:30pm Schedule day.
On the 6 “3:15” Wednesdays, we end class
at 2:30pm and hold a 45 minute CCC.

39. Student-Led Conferences
• Our Hybrid Student-Led Conferences will be held on:
– Thursday, September 17th beginning at 4:00pm and concludes at 7:30
– Tuesday, September 22nd beginning at 4:00pm and concludes at 7:30
– More information will be forthcoming regarding conference “sign ups”.
• Our Hybrid Student-Led Conference format affords our students the opportunity to share
their portfolios with their parents. Students lead out the conversations and explain the
assignments, projects, and assessment scores with their parents. Teachers will also meet with
parents and students to discuss student information.
• Looking ahead…
• Spring Conferences
– Thursday, February 11th beginning at 4:00pm
– Tuesday, February 16nd beginning at 4:00pm

40. Junior Viking Edge
• Student Mentor Program
• 7th and 8th grade students serve as our leaders
• Serve as building tour guides
• Transition Day (Aug 6th)
• Two 6th Grade events

41. Heigal 1642
I have never
seen results
accomplished
without
passion.

42. Parent Education
• Book Discussions
• Parent Social Media Training – Once each quarter
• Parenting 101 – local experts visit and hold round table
discussions or forums

43. Infinite Campus
• Our online Parent Portal program is known as Infinite Campus. Once you
receive your parent access codes, you will be able to monitor and access
your child’s grades and attendance.
– There is also an iPhone app available.
– YouTube video for iPhone app use:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLWBszyS7NQ&safe=active
See Mrs. Wolf in the Main Office if you need your Parent Portal code.

44. Book Discussions
“Your Branches can only reach high
if your roots go deep”
- Brian Logue
First Semester: October Second Semester: January
Sponsored by Parent Involvement Team
To be
determined

45. Social Media…
• Remind 101
– To receive text messages from the classroom teachers pertaining to
homework, upcoming due dates, assessment dates, classroom
information
– Several teachers are using this “mass texting forum” to
provide real-time information for students ad parents.
– From Dr. Huff :Text to: 81010
Text Message: @fhmsinfo
• Twitter: @News4FHMS (important information for us)
@TedHiff (my professional twitter account for PD).
• Parent Twitter Chats #FHMchat 7:00pm
1st& 3rd Mondays

46. Social Media – Part II
• Blog:
www.TheodoreHuff.blogspot.com
• Instagram: #News4FHMS

47. Upcoming Events
• 5th Grade Visits: May 11th and 12th
• Summer Survival Series - T.B.A. (Late July)
• Schedule Pick-Up: July 31st 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
August 3rd 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Transition Day: Thursday, August 6th 8:00am – 2:30pm

48. School Calendar- Snow Days
May 16: Half Day May 23 : Snow Day 4 May 30: Snow Day
May 17: Half-Day May 24 : Snow Day 5 May 31 : Snow Day 9
May 18 : Snow Day 1 May 25 : Snow Day 6 June 1 : Snow Day 10
May 19 : Snow Day 2 May 26 : Snow Day 7
May 20 : Snow Day 3 May 27 : Snow Day

49. Thank You
• Now You can…
– Meet the Parent Involvement Team
– Look a Spirit Wear from PTO
– Tour the building