Anderson Middle School 6th Grade Information Night
Anderson Middle School welcomes parents for the 6th-grade information night, covering points of pride, goals for students, administrative staff, student perspectives, curricular programming, and more. Learn about the school day schedule, basics of student life, staff members, and insights from current 6th-grade students. Get all the essential information to prepare your child for a successful transition to middle school at AMS.
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Presentation Transcript
Anderson Middle School Incoming 6thGrade Parent Information Night February 27, 2019 AMS Media Center
Welcome to Anderson Middle School Home of the Vikings! We re excited for your child to join us next year at AMS! Main things we will cover tonight: AMS Points of Pride and Goals for Students AMS Administrative, Secretarial, and Support Staff Student Perspective Curricular Programming and Extra-Curricular Opportunities How to Help Your Child What s Next Between Now and the Start of Next Year
AMS Points of Pride and Goals Points of Pride We have a fantastic teaching staff who are innovative in their instructional practices to meet the needs of all learners. We have a fantastic support staff made up of para-professionals, custodians, secretaries who go above and beyond to make AMS a great place We have an outstanding music department with a 6thgrade participation rate of about 85% Our special education programming is second to none meeting the needs of students with learning disabilities, cognitive impairments, and autism spectrum disorder. Goals for Students Provide students with the best middle school experience possible by offering a multitude of opportunities and experiences. Prepare students for high school and post-secondary levels.
AMS Basics The school day runs from 8:15-3:15 Students enter the building starting at 8:05 unless there is inclement weather to which they come inside upon arrival The media center is open everyday from 7:30-8:05 a.m Students must exit the building by 3:45 unless they are here for school related business (sports, clubs, homework club, or meeting with a teacher). We do not have latchkey 6thGrade entry door is the door facing Catalpa on the east end of the building (by the big rock!). Drop-off in rear parking lot or by the middle set of tennis courts No student drop-off on Catalpa! You will get a ticket from Berkley Public Safety. Students share lockers with a partner from their 1stperiod class and one of the students must provide a lock The building is open throughout the evening if access is needed 6thand 7thgrade lunch is together with a 40 minute lunch from bell to bell.
Administrative , Secretarial, & Support Staff Administration Michael Ross Jim Cowdrey Principal Assistant Principal Support Staff Diane Duncan Counselor Social Worker Tina King Anne Nolan Speech Pathologist School Psychologist Carly Elia Secretaries Cindy Barna Judi Walters
Student Perspective 6th Graders Perspective Jackson Alderman and Jillian Jones What is the best thing about middle school? 1. What have you found to be the biggest difference between elementary and middle school 2. What do you find challenging about middle school? 3. What do you want parents to know about middle school? 4. What piece of advice would you offer for an incoming 6th grader? 5.
AMS 6thGrade Schedule and Course Offerings Each student will have 6 classes on their schedule 4 (50 - minute) periods 2 (78 - minute) periods scheduled per term. ELA and Math classes are either grade level or resource room and are 78 minutes long scheduled back to back. ELA 6 (78 Minutes) - Focus on improving reading and writing using Readers and Writers Workshop Math 6 (78 Minutes) - Connected Mathematics Program Science 6 (50 minutes) - Integrated Science Curriculum (Mi-Star Units of Study) Social Studies 6 (50 minutes) - World Geography Two Elective Periods (50 minutes each)
AMS 6thGrade Electives Year Long Classes Music - Band, Orchestra, or Choir (About 85% of students take a music class in 6thgrade) Semester Long Classes (18 Weeks) Non-Music Students Creative Writing Speech Term Length Classes (9 Weeks) Physical Education Computer Technology Art Family Consumer Science (Home-Ec) *Learning Resource Center (LRC) could be in place of one of the electives listed above for those students with an IEP or 504 plan
Sample 6thGrade Schedule 1stPeriod and of 2ndPeriod 8:15-9:33 of 2ndPeriod and 3rdPeriod 9:37-11:00 4thPeriod 11:40-12:30 Lunch 11:00-11:35 5thPeriod 12:35-1:25 6thPeriod 1:30-2:20 7thPeriod 2:25-3:15 Math 6 ELA 6 Science 6 Social Studies 6 Term 1- PE Term 2 - Computers Term 3 - Art Term 4 Family Consumer Science Band 6
7thand 8thGrade Schedule and Course Offerings Each student has 6 classes on their schedule 4 (50 - minute) periods 2 (78 - minute) periods ELA and Math classes are either grade level or resource room and are 78 minutes long scheduled back to back. ELA ELA 7 - Focus on improving reading and writing using Readers and Writers Workshop ELA 8 - Focus on improving reading and writing using Readers and Writers Workshop Math - Connected Mathematics Program for 7thand 8thGrade Math 7 7thgrade standards with some pre-algebra content Algebra 8 - 8thGrade math covering Algebra concepts. Science Science 7 Integrated Science Curriculum (Mi-Star Units of Study) Previously Introduction to Earth Science Principles Science 8 Integrated Science Curriculum (Mi-Star Units of Study) Previously Introduction to Physics Principles Social Studies Social Studies 7 - World History Social Studies 8 - American History
7thand 8thGrade Electives 8thGrade Electives 7thGrade Electives Year Long Classes Music - Band, Orchestra, or Choir Spanish 1 Spanish 2 French 1 French 2 Media (Video Announcements & Newspaper) Yearbook Year Long Classes Music - Band, Orchestra, or Choir Spanish 1 French 1 Semester Long Classes (18 Weeks) Physical Education Computer Technology Family Consumer Science Web-Design Robotics 1 (Lego Robotics) Art Semester Long Classes (18 Weeks) Physical Education Art Family Consumer Science Robotics 1 (Lego Robotics) Robotics 2 (Tetrix Robotics)
Acceleration Opportunities Middle School Options - High School Level Courses Foreign Language Spanish/French Equivalent to High School Spanish 1 and 2 and French 1 and 2 (2 Year language requirement for high school diploma) 7thgrade Spanish 1 and 8thgrade Spanish 2 7thgrade French 1 and 8thgrade French 2 8thgrade Spanish 1 and 9thgrade Spanish 2 8thgrade French 1 and 9thgrade French 2 No language in Middle School * New - The University of Michigan now requires that 2 years of a language be taken in high school. That means a student who has taken level 1 and 2 in middle school would need to take 2 additional years in high school. Mathematics Algebra 8 - Algebra Proficiency in 8thGrade = Geometry placement in 9thGrade Geometry - Geometry proficiency in 8thgrade = Algebra 2 placement in 9thGrade
Extra-Curricular and Additional Opportunities Clubs Art Club, Drama Club Middle School Drama Production Religious Diversity Journeys Geography Bee Student Council National Junior Honor Society (Induction in 7thGrade) Peer Mentorship Ski Club Yoga/Mindfullness (new to start in mid-March) Athletics 6thGrade Cross Country, Swimming, Tennis, Wrestling, and Track 7thand 8thGrade Football, Basketball, Cross Country, Track, Swimming, Volleyball, Wrestling, and Tennis, Baseball (new), and Softball (new). Character Education (A.C.E) Anderson Character Education Program 30-minute Advisory Period Upstander Anti-Bullying Program (Defeat the Label) 8th Grade Opportunities Washington DC Trip Day in the D end of Year Trip (new this year) College Tour Oakland Schools Technical Campus Tour
Middle School Challenges Changing classes with up to 6 different teachers Larger school environment (Approximately 550 students next year) Increased rigor with coursework Executive Functioning Organization Time - Management Follow-Through with Homework More Homework (Rule of Thumb) Grade level x 10 = Average number of minutes of homework. 6thgrade = 60 minutes on average 7thgrade = 70 minutes on average 8thgrade = 80 minutes on average
How to Help Your Child Stay Informed Monitor progress through Family Access (Skyward) Computer Mobile App (App Store or Google Play) AMS School and Teacher Webpages Utilize the grade level assignment calendars on the AMS webpage Like the AMS Facebook Page (search @andersonmiddleschoolvikings) Read the AMS Principal s Weekly Updates Do not block Skylerts Build Independence by Having Your Child: Get themselves up in the morning (set alarm). Make and pack their own lunch. Not expect you to bring forgotten items up to school frequently. Communicate issues or concerns with a teacher or other staff. Not make their failure to plan your emergency. Make homework their responsibility. Assist with organizational and time management skills (Planner). Encourage involvement in school activities. Encourage independent problem-solving. Provide academic support if possible. Help guide students with responsible cell phone and social media use.
Get Involved Parent Organizations Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) Berkley African American Parent Network (BAAPN) Berkley Instrumental Boosters (BIB) Berkley Orchestra Association (BOA) Berkley Choir Boosters Tri-Community Coalition Attend School Events Curriculum Night Parent-Teacher Conferences (Fall and Spring) Sporting Events Music Concerts School Play Volunteer to chaperon a field trip or school function
Whats Next? Scheduling visits with 5thgraders. Between now and the dates below, students will complete the 6th grade course selection worksheet (example on next slide) and turn them into their 5th grade teacher by March 22 March 25 - Angell March 26 - Pattengill March 27 - Rogers Transition visits for special education students have already begun. 5thGrade visit - June 3rd 11:45-2:45. Summer Reading Students are expected to read at least 2 books. 6thGrade Orientation August 19th8:15 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Students receive schedules Activities to help with middle school transition Parents must complete the online annual summer packet prior to orientation. *Students will not be given a schedule unless the packet is complete. First day of School August 26th, 2019 (full day)
People to Contact With Questions Michael Ross - Principal 248-837-8201 michael.ross@berkleyschools.org Jim Cowdrey Assistant Principal/Middle School Athletic Director 248-837-8202 james.cowdrey@berkleyschools.org Diane Duncan School Counselor 248-837-8267 diane.duncan@berkleyschools.org AMS Main Number: 248-837-8200
