welcome aboard!. home of the admirals spirit service scholarship

WELCOME ABOARD!

HOME OF THE ADMIRALS

SPIRIT

SERVICE

SCHOLARSHIP

PrincipalBridget Loft

Director of CounselingJohn Barnes

Assistant PrincipalsRenee HarberShannan Ellis

Scott McKeown

2013-2014 Enrollment

1000

The School Day7:50 a.m. – 2:24 p.m.

• Breakfast served at 7:20 a.m.• 3 minutes between classes• Classes are 46 minutes• Grade level lunches: 35 minutes long

• Afterschool Program:• ASP I: 2:30- 3:30pm (Clubs, Sports, ACT 2, Homework

• help, PTA enrichment classes)• ASP2: 3:30-4:21pm

• Late bus: Monday- Thursday at 4:15pm

• Check-In

The Swanson Statement• We are Swanson Admirals!

• We are scholarship-striving to think deeply and open our minds

• We are service-connecting to one another, our community, and to the world

• We are spirit-celebrating our successes, ourselves and our school.

• We are Swanson Admirals!

STAR: Swanson Teacher Advisory & Reading

• 7:50 – 8:10 am daily

• Opportunities for…• New student orientation• Development of interpersonal skills & team building• Improving organizational and study habits• Career Education • Character Education by the 8th grade CEAs• Service projects and Spirit activities (Team and School-wide)

• Televised school announcements• Swanson Statement • Distribution of progress reports, report cards,

important information, etc.

• SQUIRT: Sustained Quiet Uninterrupted Reading Time (Mondays and Thursdays)

Sixth Grade Core SubjectsCore Teams: Clippers, Schooners and Sea Hawks

• Mathematics- Math 6, Math 7 for 6th Graders

• Social Studies- American History to 1865

• Science - Physical and Earth Sciences

• Language Arts- Reading & Writing

• Reading- Reading Comprehension and Note Taking Strategies

• Reading/Transitional Spanish 6 ( prerequisite: FLES, Immersion)) – a semester of reading, and a semester of Spanish for 6th graders (not for high school credit)

• Health & PE

6th Grade ElectivesAdmiral’s Wheel • Fine Arts – Art, Drama, and Chorus• Practical Arts - Technology Education, Family Consumer Science, and

Computer Keyboarding

• World Languages (semester, not for high school credit and paired with Reading)

• Introduction to French• Introduction to Spanish• Introduction to Latin

Instrumental Music • Beginning Orchestra• Beginning Band• Beginning Chorus

Math Strategies: (teacher recommendation)

Due back 3/3

Counseling Services• Individual and Group Counseling• Classroom Guidance:

• Academic Planning and Course Selection• Bullying Prevention lessons

• Character Education activities• Orientation and Transition Activities• Career Education Activities• Admirable Admirals recognition• Parent-Teacher Conferences• Consultation and Referral (tutors, mental health)• Summer School and summer enrichment

recommendations

6th Grade Transition Activities

• Orientation night for rising 6th grade parents

• Swanson administrators or counselors visit

elementary schools in late winter/spring

• 5th graders visit Swanson in April/June

• Orientations/tours offered in summer

• Open House at the end of August

How We Support & Engage Parents

• Student-led conferences in the fall and spring

• Active PTA and music boosters organizations

• Opportunities to volunteer : simulations, special activities, chaperone field trips

• PTA Anchor newsletter & PTA listserve, announcements & team emails

Examples of “Act 2” After School Classes

• Art• Tech Education: Computer Aided Drafting• Chorus• Beginning Band• Core Plus

• PTA enrichment classes (new 2013-14)• No Fear Shakespeare • Chess • Video Game Design • Photography • Song Writing Group 

After School Activities-Sports• Girls Soccer* - September-October • Tennis*- September-October • Dive – September-November• Boys Soccer* - September-October• Girls Basketball* - October-December• Boys Basketball* - January-March• Cheerleading* - October-March• Wrestling – January - March• Swim – February - April• Track – March – May

*Students must tryout for Teams and cuts will be made.

An up-to-date (post May) physical is required to participate!

After School Activities-Clubs

Got an idea for a new club! See Mr. Holland!

After School Activities• ASP1: - 2:30PM-3:30PM• ASP2: - 3:30PM-4:15PM

• Most clubs meet during ASP1. Once the meeting has ended at 3:30, walkers should walk home, while bus riders can remain in Open Gym until the late buses arrive at 4:15.

Check-In• Tameka Martin, Supervisor(703-228-5497)-Enroll through APS Extended Day Office

• 2:30 pm – 6:00 pm, Monday-Friday in the cafeteria

• Check-in students can participate in Swanson’s after school activities while in Check-In

• Activities are self-directed• Organized events include field trips, theme days and special activities

Academic Planning

• APS has now created an academic planning roadmap and student companion documents to assist students and families with academic planning. The roadmap has essential information that will help students when planning for coursework now and in the future. Use the links below to access these resources on the APS website.

• http://www.apsva.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=2202

• http://www.aspva.us/Page/22703

SWANSON Anchors: 

6th grade Counselor:Judy Jankowski

Judy.Jankowski@apsva.us703-228-5509

HILT Counselor/Minority Achievement

Monica LozanoMonica.lozano@apsva.us

703 228-5512

Important Anchors Math Content Lead

Teacher:•Laura Partridge

• Laura.Partridge@apsva.us

• 703-228-2344

• Reading Specialist• Cyndi Chiu• Cynthia.Chiu@apsva.us

• 703 228-5520

Sharen HumannResource Teacher for the GiftedSharen.humann@apsva.us703 228-5521

Final thoughts…What can you do to support your child’s transition?• Help set good study habits: time and place• Check the student’s agenda book• Encourage organization: filing papers, homework in the binder

the night before, backpack ready• Responsibilities at home build independence and confidence• Keep the lines of communication open & validate concerns• Balance is key for extra-curricular activities• Read daily (Summer library program)• Complete the math packet!

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