Silas Deane Middle School 7th Grade OrientationWednesday, February 28, 2013

7:00 p.m.Silas Deane Middle School

Upcoming Transition Events

• Course Registration Process - Forms going home with students early March

• Student Orientation visits to SDMS – May 6th (Highcrest, Hanmer and Webb) and May 13thth (Charles Wright and Emerson Williams)

• Early August– Schedules will be mailed home.• Incoming 7th Grade Parent/Student Orientation

– August 21st

Silas Deane Middle SchoolVision Statement

•Each person in the school community is important

and will be treated equally and fairly;•All people can learn and achieve success;•A positive attitude and environment fosters

success for all;•Respect, integrity and honesty are our core

values;•All persons need to feel safe in school;•For every right comes a responsibility;•Creativity and a sense of humor are

respected and essential in achieving success.

 

Safety and Discipline

• Safety is our primary concern. Research suggests and our experience informs us that a safe environment allows for high levels of teaching and learning.

• Every parent receives a student handbook that outlines all of the rules and norms of Silas Deane Middle School as well as Wethersfield Public Schools.

• Students will make mistakes! Do not excuse them, but help students to learn from them.

• Our goal is to prepare students for WHS as they progress towards young adulthood.

We are a Community Service School

As a school we try to help those less fortunate than ourselves• Each team has a community service project that the students participate in:

– Sandwiches for the South Park Inn – a homeless shelter– Funds raised to create Thanksgiving food boxes for families in need– Entire 7th grade collecting canned goods to “Stuff-a-Bus” for the Wethersfield Food

Bank – Funds and gifts raised for SDMS families in need for the holidays– 26 Pallets of items for victims of Hurricane Sandy– “Soup-er Bowl Sunday” – Collection of canned goods for the Wethersfield Food

Bank– Raised cash for the victims of Sandy Hook for the American Red Cross – American Heart Association – American Diabetes Association – Hoops for Heart– SDMS Staff Holiday songs for charity– Beautification of the SDMS courtyard – students giving back

• As a school we have raised thousands of dollars and donated canned goods and clothing for those in need!

Guidance Services

• Developmental Guidance– There is a focus in three primary areas:

• Educational Planning• Career Planning• Personal/Social Development

Classroom Lessons on Bullying, Conflict Resolution and Career Exploration (Naviance)

A meeting with every 7th grader for developing relationships that last two years

Student Success Plans are discussed with students with goals established

Short term group and individual counseling support based on need

Safe School Climate:A Culture of Acceptance

At SDMS we make every attempt to diminish mean spirited behaviors and bullying!• We have weekly messages of kindness and support read over the

intercom and in classroom announcements• Students, staff and parents fill out surveys about the climate at

SDMS• Advisor/Advisee Program established this year• Town Meeting to be established this year to recognize staff and

students who have contributed in a positive way to the SDMS culture

• Continue with the tenets of Rachel’s Challenge (Chain Reaction)

Parent Communication Tools• Formal Communication Tools/Opportunities

– Homework/missing assignment updates– Progress reports (half way point of every trimester)– Report cards– PowerSchool Parent Portal– monthly on-line newsletter – Deane Scene– web site for regular communication

–http://www.wethersfield.k12.ct.us– Email– Wiki Spaces

• Additional Communication Tools– team meetings (in place of conferences)– teacher voice mail

Student Activities

• Band• Drama Club/Production• Student Council• Socials

– Cabaret tryouts and rehearsals– Circle of Friends – Students and Seniors as Partners

• Orchestra • Chorale – audition• Jazz Band - audition

• Robotics Club• Crossroads

– Baby sitting– Cooking– Photography– Boxing– Police Explorers– SDMS School Library Use after

school for research and technology support

A Late Bus is available for bus students. It leaves no later than 3:20 p.m.

We are a TEAMING school . ..

• GoalsEase 6th to 7th transitionRespond to the needs of 12-14 year oldsEncourage parent communication with parentsFoster a team identity

Teams = “School within a School”

• Each team has a Team Liaison (coordinator)• Common planning times are 10:00 and 1:20• 90-100 students• A Guidance Counselor• Teams share World Language, Math Explorations

and Content Explorations teachers• Clustered rooms and lockers• Team FLEX Period (Students can get support as

needed during this time)

Commonly Asked Questions About Teaming

• Are all students that study French or Italian on one team?

• Are all students from the same elementary school on the same team?

• Is there a level one team and a level two team?• Can I request my child’s team?• Can my child cross team to have different teachers? Middle School philosophy is to broaden student horizons

and expose students to new friends, new social settings and new learning.

What does a team look like?• Teachers in the following content areas:

– Language Arts– Social Studies– Math– Science– Shared – World Language

and support classes

Unified Arts Classes

• Art• Family and Consumer Science• Health• Music• Physical Education• Technology Education*These classes are designed forexploratory purposes to support interest

GRADE 7

Time Mon Tues Wed Thur Friday

 

1 - 8:00-9:00 

 

A 

E 

D 

C 

B  

2 - 9:03-9:58 

 

B 

A 

E 

D 

C 

3 - 10:01-10:56 

UnifiedArts

UAFLEX

UnifiedArts

UnifiedArts

Unified Arts

  

4 - 10:59-11:54 

 

C 

B 

A 

E 

D  

5 - 11:57-12:22 

 LUNCH

 LUNCH

 LUNCH

 LUNCH

 LUNCH

  

6 - 12:25-1:20 

 

D 

C 

B 

A 

E 

7 - 1:23-2:20 

UnifiedArts

UnifiedArts

ACADFLEX

UnifiedArts

Unified Arts

Parent Action Committee

MISSION STATEMENT

To promote a middle school environment

that supports positive youth development

Important Functions of PAC

• Parent Involvement• Home/School communication• Fundraising to support school, staff,

students and community• Educational activities for students and

parents• Student/Family activities and socials

Initiatives at Silas Deane Middle School

for 2013-2014Continued Implementation of:• A Professional Learning Community• Improved Literacy Skills

– Reading Strategies Across ALL Content Areas, including Unified Arts• Team Building Activities• Community Service Projects• Universal Assessments• Content Area Collaborative Groups/Data teaming• New Technology Initiatives – Ipads, Laptops, BYOD as learning opportunities• Integrating Library Research Skills into Curriculum Projects• Changes to School Climate

– Diminished mean spirited behaviors• Scientific Research Based Interventions

TO DO: Double Check to make sure the elementary school nurse has your child’s blue physical form updated

and on file.

Over the Summer . . .• Summer Reading

– Posted in June on district website

– Read a minimum of 3 books (personal choice)

– Keep a reading log (collected in the fall)

– SDMS Library Media Specialist will visit 6th grade classes in June to share book ideas

– Consider participating in Wethersfield Library Teen Summer Reading Program

• Summer Options• Wethersfield

Recreation and Parks

Silas Deane Middle School Facts

• SDMS strives to be a challenging learning environment for all students.

• SDMS is a safe and healthy learning environment.

• Trust, honesty and respect are guiding principles in all that we do for our students.

• We all take pride in our role in your child’s life.

Final Words of Wisdom

• Try to remain calm• Maintain your sense of humor!• Call regarding questions • Maintain rules at home• Read the handbook with your child. It has all

SDMS rules and Wethersfield policies in it. – NO SURPRISES!• Stay involved – no matter what your child

says!

Thank you for coming!!!

See you in the late summer and fall!