Scarborough Middle School Principal Barbara Hathorn Assistant Principal David Currier Incoming 6th Grade Parent/Guardian Informational Meeting April 11, 2016

Speakers and Guests: • Barbara Hathorn - Principal • David Currier – Assistant Principal • Michelle Grant – School Counselor • Mark Tardif – 6th Grade Learning Community Leader • Rob Pellerin – School Resource Officer • 6th Grade Students – Grace Boucher, Brennan Fravert • 8th Grade Students – Nick Dehler, Maddison Blanche

Early Adolescence: A Time Of Rapid Growth and Change

Young Adolescent Development

The key to success at the middle level is having a clear understanding of the students we serve. “Young people undergo more rapid and profound personal changes between the ages 10 and 15 than at any other time in their lives. Although growth in infancy is also very extensive, infants are not the conscious witnesses of their development” (This We Believe). Early adolescents may have any or all of the following characteristics: • They are loyal to their friends.

• They are seldom satisfied with the way they look.

• They talk behind their friends’ backs.

• They outgrow clothes every few months.

• Their voices crack.

• They tend to be unrealistically self-critical and are easily offended.

• They want to be independent. • They do not want to let go of their childhood.

• They tend to be hopeful and optimistic.

Characteristics of Middle School Students • They eat all the time. • Their music is too loud. • They take social issues very seriously. • They frequently exclaim, “You don’t understand!” or “That’s not fair!”

• They like hanging out at home with their parents. • They hate hanging out at home and being with their parents.

• They cry a lot.

• They have difficulty attending to something for more than a minute at a time.

• They laugh a lot.

• They are plagued with acne.

• They are certain nobody has ever felt what they are feeling.

• They are willing to learn material they consider useful and relevant.

What is Scarborough Middle School?

Characteristics of a middle level classroom: • MORE experiential, hands-on learning. • MORE active learning, with all the appropriate noise and movement of students doing, talking, and collaborating. • MORE emphasis on higher-order thinking. • MORE deep study of smaller number of topics. • MORE time devoted to reading deeply in to independently interpret information from a variety of resources. • MORE responsibility transferred to students for their work: goal setting, record keeping.

Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Characteristics: • Educators value young adolescents and are prepared to teach them. • Students and teachers are engaged in active, purposeful learning. • Curriculum is challenging, exploratory, integrative, and relevant. • Educators use multiple learning and teaching approaches. • Varied and ongoing assessments advance learning as well as measure it.

Culture is an important part of a middle school. Culture and community characteristics include the following: • The school environment is inviting, safe, inclusive, and supportive of all. • Every student’s academic and personal development is guided by an advocate. • Comprehensive guidance and support services meet the needs of young adolescents. • Health and wellness are supported in curricular and school-wide programs. • The school actively involves families in the education of their children.

How is Scarborough Middle School organized? Middle School Learning Communities 6 Math 6 ELA 6 Sci 6 SS

6 Math 6 ELA 6 Sci 6 SS

6 Math/SS 6 ELA/SS 6 Sci/SS

7 Math 7 ELA 7 Sci 7 SS

7 Math 7 ELA 7 Sci 7 SS

7 Math 7 ELA 7 Sci 7 SS

8 Math 8 ELA 8 Sci 8 SS

8 Math 8 ELA 8 Sci 8 SS

8 Math 8 ELA 8 Sci 8 SS

The Organization of the Learning Communities • Learning Communities consist of single-grade level (a grade 6, a grade 7 and a grade 8) groupings • Each contain smaller Inquiry Teams of one grade level • New Learning Community each year

6th Grade Learning Community 6 Math/SS 6 Math 6 ELA/SS 6 ELA 6 Sci/SS 6 Sci 6 SS

6 Math 6 ELA 6 Sci 6 SS

Strengths of Small Inquiry Teams • Knowledge of Curriculum • Knowledge of Learning Styles • Knowledge of Adolescent Developmental Needs • Parent/Teacher Relationships • Flexible scheduling to meet student needs • Interdisciplinary Units • Mutual Investment • Productive Use of Time • Students’ Sense of Belonging

SMS provides a strong, rigorous curriculum: Core Courses English Language Arts (ELA) Mathematics (Math in Focus) Science (iQuest) Social Studies (DBQ Project) World Language (Grade 8 only)

SMS provides opportunities for students to explore: Technology and Engineering Technology Basics Art Wellness (Health and Phys. Ed.) Music Band (Elective) World Language (Spanish or French) Flex

SMS provides 1 to 1 technology:

Every student has an HP Laptop!

A Student’s Perspective! Students will share their experiences with technology at SMS. • Google Docs • Electronic portfolios • Sharing work with teachers/saving trees • Collaborating with students • Microsoft Office • Applications on Google Drive • Scratch • Sketch up • Coding • Laptops do not go home – pros and cons

SMS Provides a variety of Support Services: • Special Education • GATES • Social Work • Academic Support • Health Clinic • Guidance Support • Math Support/Math Specialist • Literacy Support/Literacy Specialist • English as a Second Language • School Resource Officer (SRO)

Remediate Improve Stretch Excel The purpose of RISE is to provide an intervention or enrichment time for students to work in small groups. The goal of RISE is to have students choose learning targets that they wish to improve upon and spend targeted learning time on those learning targets.

SMS Provides a variety of Student Activities: • Student Leadership Council • Math Team • Yearbook • Chorus • CSS • Lego Robotics

• Kindness Crew • Computer Club • Builders’ Club • Theater Team • WSMS News • Muses’ Pen • Interact Club

SMS Provides a variety of Interscholastic Athletics for 8th graders only : • Indoor Track

• Soccer

• Outdoor Track

• Basketball

• Cross Country

• Swimming

• Softball

• Wrestling

• Baseball

• Lacrosse

(Ski Team, Hockey, Football, Cheering are sponsored by Booster Clubs)

• Field Hockey

Transition Activities 5th grade students visit with 6th graders - June Sneak Peek – August 24 9:00am - Noon

First Days… • Introductions: Principal, Assistant Principal, SRO, Nurses, Counselors & Social Workers • Handbook: Rules & Policies • Hello visits with Team Guidance Counselor – Mrs. Grant • Team building activities • Acclimation to the middle school • Begin Year-Long Guidance Curriculum - Tolerance Education by grade level

YOUR CHILD’S DAY • The school day begins at 7:45 and ends at 2:10. • 7:30am - Buses arrive and students may enter the building. Students should not arrive before 7:30am. Students may get breakfast at this time. • 7:45am – Classes begin after attendance and flag salute at 7:50.

Lunch is Important • Lunch is a time for students to be social. They can choose with whom to sit with each day and in which location. • Students like lunch at SMS because they can make healthy choices about what to eat. • Students will have lunch by grade. • Parents should encourage students to eat a well balanced lunch.

The Afternoon • 2:10 pm Students return to homeroom and dismissal begins. • Bus students are dismissed first. Walkers, students being picked up, and students staying after school are dismissed after buses leave. • Parents are not encouraged to come in to school to pick up their child during dismissal.

During the Day • Students may go to their lockers at designated times throughout the day. • Students may bring snacks to school. Each team will have a time students are permitted to eat a healthy snack.

A Student’s Perspective! Students will explain what their day is like with core classes on the 6th Grade Learning Community . • Like a family, compact space • Know teachers better • “recess time built in” • Lockers • Best bathrooms and water fountain! • Heat and air conditioning • Bullying, etc.

How to stay in touch • Homeroom teacher • Email teachers • PowerSchool Bulletin • PowerSchool grades • Student Advocacy • School nurse • Administration

August Please be looking for a letter mid-August indicating your child’s placement for 6th grade.