Today’s Agenda • Introduction

• 6th grade transition plan

• Teams and the MS Model

• A typical day at JMS

• Extra Curricular Activities

• Scheduling and Course Selection

• Health Office Information

• Communication at the Middle School

• PTA Information

• 5th Grade Visits and Orientation

6th grade Transition Plan • Part I - January visits to Elementary schools

• Course selection • General overview of programs at JMS

• Part II - May move-up day • Elementary schools come to JMS • School tours • Panel of 8th graders • “What makes JMS special”

• Part III - Orientation – August orientation day – August 16th (tentative)– Two session

options (AM, PM) • Walk your schedule w/ student tour guides • Practice opening lockers • “Station walk” to meet PTA, Café, Teen Center, etc…

Teams and the Middle School Model

• 6th Grade – Twisters and Wildfires

• Smaller environment in a larger school

• Interdisciplinary learning

• Student centered approach

• Highly collaborative and caring teams

A Typical Day Arrival

Breakfast Club 7:15 AM

Front doors open 7:45 AM

Locker (Get organized for the day)

Homeroom & Morning News

Class Schedule 8 period day

44 minute classes

30 minute lunch; 11:20 – 11:50

Dismissal – 2:58 PM

5 Day Rotation – JMS Website

Schedules • 8 Periods, 44 minutes each

• Core classes (“on team”) – English, Literature

– Math, Science, Social Studies

• Foreign Language: – 22 min. Spanish/French/German

– 22 min. Team time

• Music 3 days/PE 2 days – Chorus/Orchestra/Band

• Unified Arts – Art, Health, BIT, Academic Lab

Extra-curricular Activities • 6th grade Intramural sports

• Literary Magazine

Our Piece of Mind

• International Club

• After School Tutoring

• Yearbook

• Video Announcement Squad

• Coding Club

• Science Club

What 6th graders worry about? • Lockers

• Work load

• Cafeteria

– Seats

– Accounts

•www.PayForIt.net

•Checks to MTLSD

– Packing a lunch

School Climate • Tuesday Talk Program

• Inclusive Focus

• Celebrating Diversity

Scheduling • On line via Dashboard

• Paperwork coming home

• Three choices to make: 1. Foreign Language

• Spanish, French, or German

2. Music Selection • Instrument or Chorus

3. Math Selection • Honors, Academic, Other

Scheduling

• Course Request Window: 2/2 – 2/12

• Login to Dashboard

• Click on Course Selection icon. If you do not see this icon, the course selection period may have ended or has not begun.

• Teacher recommendations will appear for math and instrumental music.

Course Request Process 6th Graders needs to make 3 choices: Math, Music, World Language

Course Request Process • Once all course selections are complete, no red exclamation

points should appear on the Course Selection screen.

• Click on the Submit button at the bottom of the page to submit all course requests for the next school year.

• Course selection changes can be made and submitted in dashboard until 8 a.m. on 2/12. Requests for changes after 2/12 must be submitted in writing to administration or guidance.

• All students must complete the online course request process. If your child has an IEP, his/her class schedule may change based upon decisions made at the spring IEP meeting.

Health Office Needs Attendance Reminders…

Parent excuse or Doctor’s note for every absence.

State mandated requirements for 6th Grade

• Physical exam which includes scoliosis (form #440 sent home via US mail in May of 5th grade)

Advanced Planner:

• Students who are entering grade 7 are required to have the following:

– 1 dose of tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap)

– 1 dose of meningitis (MCV4)

– Dental Exam

– Sciolosis Screening (School Nurse will complete if not submitted)

Students will be excluded from school on first day of seventh grade if above vaccines are not completed. Regular reminders will be sent until proof of immunization is received to avoid this exclusion. Please submit proof of immunization (s) to the school nurse.

Communication in the Middle School

Where to go first?

• Dashboard

• Classroom Teachers

• Team Leaders

• Guidance Counselors

• Nurse

• Assistant Principal and Principal

Keeping up with JMS:

• School eblasts

• PTA Newsletter

• JMS Website

• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JMSLEBO

• Twitter @kszesterniak

Jefferson Middle School PTA

President – Julie Smith juliesmith23@hotmail.com

PTA Programs and Services

• Reflections

• Student Directory

• Bullying Prevention Kick Off Speaker

• Music Adjudication

• Test Week Mints

• Picture Day

• Newsletter

• 8th Grade Recognition

• Writing Lab

• Career Day

• Exploratory Day

• Angel Fund

• 6th & 7th Field Trips

…and more!

Fundraising

Did you know that it costs our PTA about $25 per child, on top of membership dues, to provide

our services?

PTA has eliminated traditional fall fundraisers and instead funds services through parent

donations.

**JMS still conducts a Student Activities Fundraiser in the fall to raise money to support many school sponsored programs and field trips.**

May 2018

5th Grade “Visitation Day”

5/30 – Jefferson (morning)

5/30 – Hoover (afternoon)

5/31 – Markham (morning)

5/31 – Lincoln (afternoon)

August 2018

Parent/Student Orientation (tentative 8/16/18)

“Walk your Schedule Day” (tentative 8/24/18)

Questions?

Best Wishes…

…for a productive and successful end to Elementary School …for a wonderful middle school experience!