Welcome to our Middle School

Middle School Philosophy

• Environment: safe, comfortable, accepting

• Communication: open• Structure: teamwork and

cooperation

Middle School Philosophy

• Concept: community• Achievements: acknowledged and

celebrated• Focus: student learning, life long

learning

Subjects

– Portuguese– Drama– PE– English– Art– Mathematics– Science

– Integrated Technology

– World Cultures (Geography/History)

– Band– Brazilian Social

Studies / Brazilian Social Studies for Foreigners

Our Middle School Team

• Priscila Torres: Principal– Diva Lara: MS Secretary

• Kristopher Miller: MS/HS Guidance Counselor– Lilian Jabour: Guidance Secretary

• Eric Metee: MS/HS Athletics

Meet the Team

• Math and Science

• Edith Hills

• Daniel McMorrow

• Portuguese and PFL

• Lêda Rioja

• Leila Maia

Meet the Team

• English and World Cultures

• Maria Teresa Barbosa

• Cristina de Cicco:

• Angela Deakin

• Katie Osteen

Meet the Team

• BSS/BSSF and PFL

• Rodrigo Oliveira

• Gracinha Gaunt

• Sabrina Santos

• Physical Education

• Simone Keller

• Bryan Bakker

Meet the Team

• Exploratory

• Dan Moraes: Integrated Technology

• Heatherly Stephens: Drama

• Julie Million: Art

• Vadim Arsky: Band

Middle School Programs

SWAT & Leadership• SWAT: Student With Advisory Teacher

(character education program)• Focus: – Organization

– College Preparation– Teen Issues

– Healthy habits– Healthy decision making

SWAT & Leadership

• Grade 6: – 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

• (Sean Covey)

• Grade 7: – The 6 Most Important Decisions You’ll

Ever Make • (Sean Covey)

• Grade 8: – The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

• (John Maxwell)

For New Students

• Buddies

Grading Policy

Grading

• Consistent Grading Policy– Formative (practice)– Summative (tests, major projects)– Attitude and Work Habits

• (rubric based grading out of 5 categories to include communication, openness to learn, respect, preparedness, active presence)

Homework

• For practice

• Projects

Tests

• Maximum of two tests per day

• Announced a week in advance

Final Exams

• Teacher Discretion

Activities

Middle School Activities

• Student Council• Global Awareness

Fair• Field Day• Field Trips• Career Day• Spelling Bee• Lock-in• Mathcounts• Band Concerts• Art Shows

• Celebration of the Arts• Student Council/NJHS• Choir• Science Fair• Drama Play• Sports

– Soccer– Futsal– Volleyball– Basketball– Cheerleading

Multidisciplinary Trips

Locations:– Grade 6: Florianópolis– Grade 7: Floresta Amazônica &

Manaus – Grade 8: Pantanal & Bonito

Little 8

Little 8 Sports: First Semester

• Boys and Girls Soccer

Little 8 Sports: First Semester

• Boys and Girls Basketball

• Cheerleading

Little 8: Second Semester• Boys Futsal

• Girls Volleyball

• Cheerleading

• Non- (NR)Traveling Sports:

• Boys Volleyball

• Girls Futsal

Awards/Recognition

Recognition

• NJHS

• Student of the Month

• Student of the Year

Communication

www.edline.net

• Web-based tool

• Offered to all Middle School parents

• Grades updated every week

• Assignment Update: Every day

With Parents

• Edline: daily and weekly• E-mail• Website• Phone Calls• PTO Monthly Coffees• Individual Meetings• Formal Grade Reporting:

– Progress Report Cards (70% or below): every 4 weeks

– Report Cards with computer generated comments: every 9 weeks

As a Team of teachers• Weekly after school meetings

Absences

Procedure

• Homework and absences:– Parents: inform MS office (e-mail or

phone call)– Students: speak to teachers

• School related absences:– Allowed to make-up work– Marked absent

Safety and

Security

Safety: Discipline

• Honor Level System

Security: Drills

– Emergency Drill– Lock Down

Further Questions• Please do not hesitate to call: 3442 9747

• Or e-mail: ptorres@eabdf.br

Thank you for Thank you for your time and your time and

welcome to MS!welcome to MS!