NEW PARENT & STUDENT

ORIENTATION

St. Paul’s Middle School 2014-15

THE BIG QUESTION

How do we get adolescent boys from a place of extrinsic motivation to where they are intrinsically motivated to give their best effort, rebound from disappointment, learn from mistakes, and consistently strive for excellence in all that they do?

EFFORT, MASTERY, BEHAVIORS, & HABITS

“Effort is one of the things that gives meaning to life. Effort means you care about something that is important to you and you are willing to work for it. It would be an impoverished existence if you were not willing to value things and commit yourself to working toward them.”

Carol Dweck - Mindset

OUR THEMES Mastery Developing Teacher Pleasing

Behaviors and Habits You are part of something

bigger than yourself

MASTERY BEHAVIORS & HABITS RUBRIC

Standards Exceeding Expectations (E) Meeting Expectations (M) Not Meeting Expectations (N)

Participation Consistently and appropriately offers insights & ideas in class.

 Consistently asks relevant, insightful and clarifying questions.

Usually and appropriately offers insights & ideas in class.

 Usually asks relevant questions.

Occasionally offers insights & ideas in class.

 Occasionally asks clarifying questions.

Materials Management Notebook/binder is completelyorganized based on teacher/student agreed-upon guidelines.

 Consistently Files papers/handouts appropriately.

 Consistently treats project materials with care and respect.

Notebook/binder is mostly organized based on teacher/student agreed- upon guidelines.

 Usually papers/handouts are appropriately filed. Papers & assignments are usually, easily, and quickly retrievable.

Notebook/binder is rarely organized based on the agreed-upon guidelines. Because of ineffective filing habits, student can rarely find papers, handouts, and homework. Often needs class time to look through binders, notebook or backpack to locate papers & assignments

Day-to-Day Learning Consistently has homework assignments completed thoroughly and on time. Consistently demonstrates relevant, thoughtful observations and questions on the homework Frequently compares today’smaterial with previously learnedmaterial, making connections between prior knowledge and the day’s lesson.  Consistently takes full advantage of class-time; moves project work forward on a day-to-day basis.

Usually completes homework assignments thoroughly and on time. Sometimes has specific questions or observations on the homework.  Sometimes compares today’s material with previously learned material.    Usually takes full advantage of class-time; moves project work forward

Struggles to complete homework assignments thoroughly and on time. Rarely asks questions about homework.   Rarely offers an insight on a lesson and its relationship to the prior day’s lesson.    Rarely takes full advantage of class-time for project work

MASTERY BEHAVIORS & HABIT RUBRIC

Self-Advocacy  Consistently communicates with teacher to schedule extra help, if needed. Arrives to extra help prepared with specific questions, concerns or review topics.

 

 Occasionally communicates with teacher to request extra help, if needed.

 May arrive for help without a clear understanding of what topics or questions they need help with.

 Rarely communicates with teacher to request extra help, if needed.

Rarely arrives for help with a clear understanding of the areas where he needs help. Does not demonstrate a sense of urgency for the help he needs.

 Collaborative Work Willingly works with assigned

partners/teams. Openly and freely contributes ideas and thoughts.  Gains insights from listening to theThoughts, analyses, & experiences of other students. Consistently assists other students who need support/explanation.

Works well with most partners/teams.  Usually contributes ideas and thoughts.   Usually gains insights from listening to the thoughts, analyses, & experiences of other students. Usually assists other students who need support/explanation.

Has difficulty working with partners/teams. Is reluctant to share ideas and thoughts with team members. Is passively involved in the group process. Struggles to gain insights from listening to the thoughts, analyses, & experiences of other students. Rarely assists other students who need support/explanation.

Promptness & Readiness to Work

Arrives to class on time each day

 Consistently is first-minute ready.

Usually arrives on time to class.

 Usually is first-minute ready.

Sometimes arrives late to class  Is infrequently first-minute ready.

Absence Advocacy Consistently meets with teacher upon return from an absence. Does what is necessary to be up to date on what was missed.

 Makes up all work within a timeframeagreed upon by student and teacher.

Usually meets with teacher upon return from an absence. 

Is mostly up to date on what was missed.

  Makes up most work within a timeframe agreed upon by student and teacher.

Rarely meets with teacher upon return from an absence. Makes minimal effort to make up missed work. Rarely makes up work within a timeframe agreed upon by student and teacher. Frequently has to be reminded to submit missed work.

THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS

THE DAILY SCHEDULE

Monday Tuesday WednesdayThursday

times Thursday Friday

   

HR 7:45-8:00 7:30-8:10Faculty meeting HR 7:45-8:00

1st period 8:05-8:45 A B C 8:15HR in

Chapel D 8:05-8:45

2nd period 8:50-9:30 B C D 8:20-9:00 Chapel F 8:50-9:30

Recess 9:30-9:37 recess recess recess 9:05-9:45 D recess 9:30-9:37

3rd period 9:45-10:25 C D **F 9:50-10:30 ***C *G9:45-10:25

4th period10:30-11:10 D F G

10:35-11:15 G A

10:30-11:10

Lunch11:10-11:55 Lunch-5th Lunch-7th Lunch-6th

11:20-11:55 Lunch Lunch-8th

11:10-11:55

5th period12:00-12:45 E E E

12:00-12:40 E E

12:00-12:45

6th period 12:50-1:30 F G A 12:45-1:25 A B12:50-1:30

7th period 1:35-2:15 G A B 1:30-2:10 B C 1:35-2:15

HR/ORG 2:20-2:50 RRR Chapel RRR 2:15-2:55 FAdvisory/Assembly 2:20-2:50

**F 6th SH ***C 7th SH *G 5th SH

ATHLETIC OPPORTUNITIES

Fall – football (flag for 6th; full contact for 7th & 8th), soccer, cross-country

Winter – basketball, wrestling, squash, hockey

Spring – lacrosse, baseball, tennis, golf

DRESS CODE

Clothing and Personal Appearance Expectations 

Pants: Dress slacks, chinos or dress corduroys, cuffed or hemmed. A belt is required.

Shirts: Dress shirt (tucked in) and tie (pulled up).  Sports coats, sweaters, and St. Paul’s fleeces; No

sweatshirts are permitted inside the classroom. Visible socks are required. Shoes: Dress shoes, loafers, docksiders, canvas tie shoes

(blue or gray), dress leather shoes including suede and boat shoes. Laces must be tied when they are present.

Hair must be neat and clean. The length of one’s hair should not be a distraction to the student, to his peers, or impede his academic focus in any way. The administration and faculty will determine what hairstyles are appropriate.  

DRESS CODEStudents are not allowed to wear the following items  Blue jeans, cargo pants, jean-style corduroys, sweat pants

or shorts.  Flannel or chamois shirts. St. Paul’s sweatshirts are not

permitted in the classroom.  Athletic shoes, boots, sandals, moccasins/slippers,

backless shoes, clogs, flip flops, open-toed shoes, and rubber-soled hiking boots. 

Military or camouflage attire, chains on a belt, or on a sleeve or shoulder of a jacket. 

Earrings and similar jewelry.  Headbands, hats or visors (in the building).

DRESS CODESeasonal Wear  Before Thanksgiving and after spring break, a plain navy blue

polo shirt, yellow polo shirt (must be purchased at the SP School Store) or a plain white polo shirt (St. Paul’s logo is appropriate) may be substituted for the dress shirt and tie. Polo shirts must be tucked in.

  Between Thanksgiving and spring break, a plain navy blue

turtleneck or plain white turtleneck (St. Paul’s logo is appropriate) may be substituted for the dress shirt and tie. Mock turtlenecks in the approved colors are now permitted. Turtleneck/Mockturtleneck shirts must be tucked in. No sweatshirts are permitted in the classroom.

  On certain days of the year (e.g., Lessons and Carols, Awards Day), the

above options will not be permitted. Students will be informed in advance and required to wear a shirt, tie, and blazer for such special events.

ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES

Start of the day – 7:45 AM; (8:10 option on Thursday)

End of the day – 2:50 – 3:15; 4:00 – 4:30: late pick-up (443-865-5257)

Developing Carpool Savvy Drop off and Pick-up locations

AFTER SCHOOL CARE

Monday – Thursday

No fee until 4:30, then $10/hr until 6:00 PM After 6:00 PM, $25 for every 15 minutes or

portion thereof

Friday

No fee until 3:30, then $10/hr until 6:00 PM After 6:00 PM, $25 for every 15 minutes or

portion thereof

COMMUNICATION Web Site – My SP E-mail blast from grade parents The occasional flyer Teacher e-mails Advisor e-mails Administration and faculty phone calls Interims - new format using Mastery

Behaviors & Habits Rubric Comments-Report Cards – My

Backpack Parent Conference Days Teaching Team Conferences

ABSENCES Sickness – call or e-mail the MS office Planned absence Appointments – note or phone call

ahead of time The boys’ responsibility

o Consult Final Site o Call, text, e-mail a classmateo Ask parent to request a folder with work

left outside of officeo E-mail the teacher

NO NEED FOR EXCESSIVE ANXIETY

SAGE DINING SERVICES

My Kids Spending – a way for you to manage your son’s dining account

Cash $$$$$ Your contact – Lee Mueller 410-821-

3047 Menu on the web site

BOOKSTORE PURCHASES - TEXTBOOKS

Monday – Thursday: 8:00 – 4:00 Friday: 8:00 – 3:00 School supplies, clothing, sale items, books Most middle school textbooks are issued

NOT purchased

BOOKSTORE PURCHASES - TEXTBOOKS

All students can charge to their account using their ID #unless you are in contact with the bookstore and give them specific instructions not to allow charges.

You can set a limit on what your son charges.

Boys will need materials from the store periodically (texts, special paper, pencils, flash drives)

STUDENT LIFE LESSONS Forgotten Homework Forgotten books or materials Forgotten sports clothing Not getting a test, quiz, or slip signed

TECHNOLOGY CONCERNS

Students have the responsibility for: keeping material sent or received free of

pornography, profanity, gender or racial bias, intimidation or other inappropriate information

all material received under his/her account prohibiting access to his/her account and

only using his/her account maintaining the confidentiality of passwords reporting all issues of violations of privacy

to a faculty member keeping illegal software, movies and music

of any kind from entering the School

THE HONOR CODEThe honor code helps bring to life the School's mission to develop respon sibility for one's self and one's fellow man. Learning to conduct oneself in an honorable manner is an integral part of a humanistic, and indeed religious education.

LIVE BY INTEGRITY

THE HONOR CODEStudents are expected to uphold the following five obligations of the honor code: 1. To neither give nor receive unauthorized

assistance during examinations or tests. 2. To never plagiarize, which is defined as using

material written by someone else without giving that person formal credit.

3. To never take property belonging to others without the expressed consent of the rightful owners.

4. To always tell the truth. 5. To take some form of action after witnessing a

violation of the honor code.

THE HONOR CODEAny student accused of violating the honor code will come before the Honor Council, which is composed entirely of 8th grade students elected by the students. A faculty advisor is present at all hearings and is free to offer advice but has no vote. In addition, the student's advisor and/or the chaplain will attend the hearing. The Council recommends disciplinary action to the administration.

PARENT EDUCATIONBRAIN - TARGETED TEACHING DR. MARIALE HARDIMAN - NOVEMBER 19 @ 7:00 PM

WARD CENTER MASTERY BEHAVIORS & HABITS; RE-TEACH, RE-DO, &

RE-TAKE – WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? RANDY AND ERIC – OCTOBER 1 @ 7:00 PM FISHER

HALLEVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT MATH AT ST. PAUL’S KEITH CULBERTSON, ANILEEN GRAY – OCTOBER 22 @

7:00 PM FISHER HALLTHE PERILS OF ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE MICHELLE KRIEBEL – FEBRUARY 11 @ 7:00 PM

WARD CENTER

UPCOMING DATES

September 9 – 5/6 Parent Coffee in the ACCR

@ 8:00 AM September 11 – 7/8 Parent Coffee in the

ACCR @ 8:00 AM

September 18 – Parents’ Night begins in the Chapel promptly @ 7:00 PM

COFFEE WITH RANDY These are informal gatherings to review

what has happened and what will be happening in the Middle School. Parents are encouraged to come with questions that the Middle School Head can address in a public setting.

December 1 @ 8:15 AM in the Middle School Library

February 9 @ 8:15 AM in the Middle School Library

May 4@ 8:15 AM in the Middle School Library

FUN FRIDAYSFun FridaysThese are Friday afternoons of playing games together from 3-4pm. Boys will meet in the lobby of the middle school at 3pm and walk to the gym. Pick up will be at the middle school at 4pm. September 12 6th grade September 19 7th grade September 26 5th and 8th grades

Fan Fridays Friday, October 3 - Varsity Football vs John

Carroll Friday, October 17 – JV Soccer vs. Calvert

Hall

Details for these events will come through the weekly e-mails from grade parents.

SECOND CRUSADE What – a great place to purchase gently

worn approved dress code attire from blazers to ties! $5 per item

Where – the 3rd floor of Brooklandwood – Annie’s stomping grounds

When – whenever Brooklandwood is open

MY CONTACT INFORMATION

E-mail – rwoods@stpaulsschool.org

St. Paul’s direct line – 410 - 821 – 3066

Meltdown/Crisis avoidance line – 443 – 846 - 5159